Elisabeth N Earle

Dr. Lisa Ruden Earle, 93 years old, passed away on September 22, 2013 comfortably at her home surrounded by her family. She is survived by her three children - Leonard Ruden, David Ruden and Julia Ruden; four step sons - James Earle, Richard Earle, Timothy Earle and Michael Earle; her 10 grandchildren and her seven great-grandchildren. Born in Vienna, Austria in 1920, Lisa completed high school and after living under Hitler's regime for a year, she escaped the Nazi Holocaust and immigrated to America when she was 19, with ten dollars in her pocket and one suitcase, more books than clothes. Six months after arriving in New York she went to Ocala, FL where she attended Camp Roosevelt, an immigration camp/trade school for beauty culture and to learn English. After graduating, she moved to Miami Beach and married Simon Ruden, the love of her life. They adopted all of her children, though sadly she lost her second child, Susie, to Leukemia at the age of 4 ½. She moved with Simon, a fledgling attorney starting his practice, from North Miami Beach to Fort Lauderdale, to raise their family. Dr. Lisa Earle sang and performed with the Miami Opera Guild for seven years, received her Bachelor's degree for Broward Community College, and then in 1967, after 25 years of true love, Simon passed away. He was 52. Lisa was a single mother with Lenny at 15 years old and two, 2 ½ year old children, David and Julia. She started teaching at Broward Community College to earn a living to support her family. She continued her studies earning a Master's Degree in Linguistics, teaching at BCC while working on her Doctorate. In 1976 she married her second husband and best friend James B. Earle. Jim and Lisa moved from Fort Lauderdale to Lake Placid, FL in 1986. She car-pooled with friends over the next 10 years between Boca Raton and FAU to complete her Doctorate Degree in Education at the age of 68. For the next 15 years she and Jim traveled extensively while keeping up their two homes, one in Lake Placid, FL and one in Jupiter, FL. Sadly, Jim passed away, also after 25 years of marriage. Lisa loved life and truly cared about every person she met. She wanted to know your life stories and made you feel comfortable telling them to her. She remembered every story because everyone was important to her and she found life is so interesting. She encouraged so many people and truly formed a special bond with every person she encountered and especially at the Temple Israel of Highlands County. Lisa Ruden Earlealways striving for knowledge, committed to excellence, devoted to family and friends, a spiritual giant. The light of the world is dimmer without her, and she is deeply missed. Arrangements entrusted to: Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home Sebring, FL www.stephensonnelsonfh.com