RUTH ARANIBAR
MARTINASEK, 86
LAKELAND - Ruth Aranibar Martinasek, 86, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on Wednesday, November 23, 2016.
She lost her beloved husband of sixty-one years and the love of her life, Mickey, just seven months earlier. Many have known and loved Ruth for her quick humor and her easy going spirit. We are very thankful for her life, love, and the many sacrifices she made for us during her lifetime.
Ruth was born in Oruro, Bolivia in 1930, into a family very well established in the Bolivian mining industry. She had a pioneer spirit of adventure and gave up the comforts of her privileged, social life to journey with her husband Mickey, who had recently immigrated to Bolivia after fleeing the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.
Ruth and Mickey came to the United States to begin their new lives together with their six month old daughter, Vivien. They left the cool thin air of this capital city, nested high in the Andes Mountains at an altitude of over two miles, for the near sea level town of Bartow, Florida with its warm, humid, semitropical climate.
They ultimately settled in Lakeland, Florida. Ruth initially agreed to stay 'just one year' in the U.S. This evolved into sixty years. Her family grew with the birth of two more children, Myra Danilla and Dushan, and she was blessed with lifelong friendships of so many loving and interesting people who enriched her life throughout these years.
During her years in Florida, Ruth polished her unique English skills, learned to cook, to sew, to play tennis, to cross country snow ski (albeit not in Florida) and most importantly, to play bridge. Ruth loved to play bridge with Mickey and her friends and became skilled with Mickey at duplicate bridge. They spent many afternoons enjoying the camaraderie of the Lakeland Duplicate Bridge Club. Ruth was also an avid reader, and she loved spending summers hiking or relaxing with Mickey and her family in the hills of North Carolina.
Ruth is survived by her three children: Vivien Carroll (Dr. Ed Carroll), Danilla Sawyer (Ron Sawyer), and Dr. Dushan Martinasek (Dr. Mary Martinasek), grandchildren: Paul (Jen), Leah, Kyle, Tyler (Megan), Alex, and Lauren, and great-grandchildren: Lily and Logan.
A memorial service is planned for Sunday, December 18, 2016 at 4pm at Heath Funeral Chapel. A reception will follow in the Tribute Center.
Condolences may be sent to the family at
www.heathfuneralchapel.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
December 4, 2016
Paul Brocker
Vivien and Ed, Paul and Leah. You are all in my thoughts and prayers for the loss of Ruth. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. I cherish the time that Roberta and I had with her and Mickey at your home in the many family events which you were so kind to invite us to. Now she is in heaven with Mickey, and Roberta has Lakeland friends with her. May God be in your heart during this time of grieving.
December 3, 2016
C.p.
To the family, I am so sorry for the loss of your loved one. May the God of all peace contaiue to comfort you during this time of greif.
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 results
Funeral services provided by:
Heath Funeral Chapel & Crematory328 South Ingraham Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33801
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read moreWhat kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read moreWe'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreIf you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read moreLegacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read moreThey're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read more