Anne L. Ruiz

Anita Lara Ruiz (Anne) was born on November 2, 1926 to parents Salvador (Sam) and Carmen Ruiz in Mountain View, California. As the third-born child, she was raised on a cherry orchard located on Bernardo Avenue. Anne attended Mountain View High School, and later transferred to and graduated from Fremont High School. During World War II as a teenager, she worked as an usherette at the Sunnyvale Movie Theatre and also worked for The Boys Scouts of America in an administrative role.

Anne’s career started at Wells Fargo Bank, where she advanced and administered real estate contracts and served as a loan officer for many years. She later pursued her real estate license and had a successful career as a real estate agent and broker until her retirement.

Throughout her life, Anne loved to travel and embarked on countless adventures, including trips to Europe, Mexico, and Hawaii, where she purchased a condo in Kona overlooking the ocean. She especially loved being near the water and enjoyed day trips with her family to Monterey watching the waves and sunset. Anne had a spitfire personality, with a fiery spirit, quick wit, and fierce independence that set her apart from the crowd.

After her retirement, she and her mother Carmen moved next door to each other at Fremont Terrance in Sunnyvale. Anne was a devoted daughter and caregiver to her mother for many years until she passed away at 102 years of age. The matriarch pair were affectionally called “Mama Carmen and Tita Anne,” and they would spend time, including holidays, birthdays, and special occasions celebrating with their family.

In her later years, Anne loved to reminisce about growing up with a wonderful family foundation and how she was so fortunate to have been blessed with the parents she had. She was fiercely proud of her Spanish heritage and loved to reminisce about her childhood on the ranch, stories of her siblings, and her travels and adventures with friends and family, often over a gin cocktail, good food and company.

In 2017, Anne moved to The Belmont in Sunnyvale, CA, where she spent her final years until she peacefully passed away. Anne is survived by nieces Sharon Leslie, Sandy Varner, Janice Andrieu; and Anita Morgan, children of her sister Carmen; and nephews Sam Ruiz Jr., Chris Ruiz, David Ruiz, and Michael Ruiz, children of her brother Sam. “Tita Anne” is also survived by many great, great-great nieces and nephews who will miss her dearly.

Anne was preceded in death by her mother, Carmen, and father, Sam, and siblings Tony, Carmen, and Sam and sister-in-law Louise Ruiz, and their children Linda, Kenny, and Matthew Ruiz.

A celebration of Anne’s life will be held on Saturday, May 25th at 11 am at the Lima Family Mortuary (466 North Winchester Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050) where family and loved ones will gather to share stories, laughter, and memories of her extraordinary life.

Though Anne is no longer with us, her spirit will continue to shine brightly in the hearts of all who loved her. May she rest in peace, knowing that her love and legacy will live on for generations to come.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Anne's memory may be made to Dementia Society of America, https://www.dementiasociety.org/ or to a charity of your choice.