Obituary of Charlotte M Ruskowitz

Charlotte Manasse Ruskowitz, age 75, died June 28, 2010 in Las Vegas. Beloved and loving wife, mother and grandmother, she is survived by husband Frank Ruskowitz of Anderson; children Edwin Ruskowitz of Orange County, CA, Helen Zamba of Las Vegas, NV, David Ruskowitz and wife Susie of Las Vegas, NV, Cheryl Hall and husband Donny of Las Vegas, NV; and grandchildren Tommy O'Connor of Encino, CA, Kristen O'Connor of Las Vegas, NV, Jeffrey Ruskowitz of Las Vegas, NV and Emily Rose Ruskowitz of Las Vegas, NV. Donations in Charlotte's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society. A private memorial is to be arranged. She was born Charlotte Regina Manasse on Dec. 25, 1934 to Edwin and Rose Manasse in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up with younger sister Raedelle in Highland Park, Illinois. As a teenager who loved horses, Charlotte garnered dozens of trophies and awards as one of the top junior riders in the nation. It was during this time she met Frank who would become her husband of 58 years and father of her four loving children. In 1956 Charlotte, Frank and her first two children moved west to Burbank, California. Adding two more children to the family, she was a mother and homemaker for 18 years in the same home before moving to Las Vegas, Nevada. Charlotte loved her summer family vacations camping and water skiing at Lake Shasta near Redding, California. She and her husband even dreamed of moving there someday. The dream came true in 1983 when they built a beautiful home in Anderson, California and became part owners in a silkscreen and apparel business with her daughter and son-in-law, parents of Charlotte's first two grandchildren. While there, Charlotte's lifelong talent as a seamstress was on full display creating beautiful dresses and shirts as they followed their passion for square dancing. Throughout her life, even after the kids moved away, Charlotte was a devoted mother, a doting grandmother and a loyal friend. If she couldn't be with family and friends she'd keep up faithfully through letters, phone calls, Christmas cards and, eventually, email. The computer opened up a whole new world for Charlotte as she grew to be extremely computer-savvy. After joining the Redding Macintosh Users Group, Chuckie, as friends and family affectionately knew her, developed newfound confidence and independence. She would present software and hardware demonstrations, author articles in the group's newsletter and serve as the group's Treasurer. Some of her dearest, devoted and most enduring friendships were made through the club. Once diagnosed with terminal cancer Charlotte arranged to move to Las Vegas, Nevada where three of her four children reside. Leaving her Anderson home of 28 years she so dearly loved was just one more selfless sacrifice Charlotte made for her family. Charlotte gave of herself unconditionally, not just to her family but to her family of friends as well. Her kind nature and her honest and infectious smile disarmed everyone she met. Her innocence, her humility and her desire to place others' happiness ahead of her own was what made her truly happy. She gave every bit of her life to us; her love transcends death and endures. It's precisely and finally why she is, and will always be, so terribly missed.