It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Ruth Giuchici of Orlando, Florida. Ruth, age 94, passed away peacefully at the Cornerstone Hospice House in Ocoee, Florida on September 25, 2023, in the loving care of her daughter, Kathryn Mihalyo and Cornerstone Hospice.
Ruth was born Ruth Roberta Kristof to August and Albertina Kristof in Passaic, New Jersey on October 25, 1928. She was the youngest of three siblings. At some point, Ruth’s family moved to East Paterson, New Jersey where Ruth graduated from Lodi High School. After High School graduation, Ruth went on to study music at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. She worked for Moody’s radio station, WMBI, as a singer, soloist and transcription Librarian. After her studies at Moody, Ruth remained in Chicago, working for WMBI, singing for various musical events/churches and living at the Three Arts Club. There she became friends with Jan Whitte, also a singer in the Chicago area. Her friend Jan introduced her to her brother, Ed and the next chapter of her life began.
Edward Rodriguez and Ruth Kristof were married August 19, 1961, at the Alice Miller Chapel-Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. September of the next year had them welcoming their first child, daughter Kathryn. A few years after Kathryn was born, they bought their first house in Prospect Meadows, Mt. Prospect, Illinois. As a mother and homemaker, Ruth held many forms of employment including: in home childcare, high school cafeteria worker, retail store manager, Proofreader to Configuration technician at Barnes & Reinecke Inc.
In 1994, Ed and Ruth moved to Lakeshore Landings, Orlando, Florida. Ruth was a member of the Sunshine Girls in the park and both she and Ed enjoyed many of the park’s activities including some travel. Ed and Ruth also enjoyed cruising; one cruise took them through the Panama Canal which Edward’s dad had help build.
In 2001 Edward passed and a year later Ruth married Peter Giuchici in November in Las Vegas. They enjoyed 7 years together, much of that time spent traveling across the country, 6 weeks at a time. They also enjoyed playing cards and other park activities. Peter passed in 2009.
In 2012 Ruth moved into Westminster Towers of Orlando. She got involved right away, playing cards, volunteering, serving on the Spiritual Life committee among others. There she began her hobby of Card making. She made and sent cards for all occasions. She taught card making classes at the towers for the assisted living and health center residents. She also made each resident of assisted living and health center a Christmas card every year. That was roughly 150 cards each year. Many friends and family still have and treasure the cards she made for them.
It was in her later years that Ruth began to grow in her faith and relationship with God. She enjoyed Sunday school and Worship Services at 1st Baptist Church of Orlando. Once she moved to “the Towers” she enjoyed Chapel in the Towers, Sunday school, worship service and Wednesday Night Dinner and Bible Study at Downtown Baptist Orlando. As she grew in her faith, her desire to see her Lord face to face became stronger and stronger. She is now where she longed to be, Praise the Lord!
Ruth is survived by her daughter Kathryn and Son-in-law David Mihalyo along with many loving family members and friends. We are certain she is reunited with her sister Dorothy and brother-in-law Joseph Arena, both Edward Rodriguez and Peter Giuchici, Father August and Mother Albertina Kristof and many family and friends who have gone on before her.
A Celebration of Life service will be held in honor of Ruth will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023, 2:00 p.m. at the Downtown Baptist Church Orlando, located at 120 Pine St. in Orlando.
Bus service will be provided from the towers to the church at 1:45 and back to towers at 3:00 p.m. Any interested are welcome to join us after the service for a hot dog at Hot Dog Heaven, 5355 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL, 32807.