Carol Sue von Seidlitz

On Sunday, February 2, 2020, Carol Sue von Seidlitz, loving mother of three children, passed away at the age of 72. Carol was born on December 24, 1947 in San Bernardino, CA to Edward Harold and Evelyn Thelma (Howard) Seidlitz.

A lover of the piano at the age of four, Carol taught piano privately and academically for over 47 years. Winning her first competition at the age of 17, and a senior in high school, Carol was honored with playing “Rhapsody in Blue” with the Redlands Symphony. Carol graduated from Redlands High School in 1966 and also received her Bachelor’s degree in music from the University of California in Irvine in 1970. She went on to get married to her former husband Richard Kent Ruiz and raise her three children. Her love of piano and music though, drew her back into the fold where she unexpectedly found herself an accompanist for the Mira Costa College’s Vocal Jazz program.

For 10 years, Carol taught piano of all levels at Mira Costa College (Oceanside and San Elijo, CA) and received her Lifetime Teaching Credential there. She most recently taught at Carlsbad Village Music (Carlsbad, CA), and just prior to that at Giacoletti Music (Oceanside, CA). Carol provided piano accompaniment for Grace Presbyterian Church (Vista, CA) during her 30 plus year membership, as well as for Solana Beach Presbyterian Church (Solana Beach, CA). Her musical career not only encompassed teaching but also performing, as she was a part of the Moonlight Amphitheater’s (Vista, CA) founding days as an accompanist. She was well loved in the community for all of her assistance and amazing talent with school plays, vocal studios and other theater troupes including Coyote Cavern Productions (Carlsbad, CA).

Though Carol’s first love was the piano, she also had a love for fashion illustration and sketched film costume designs. She was an avid reader and loved watching movies.

Carol was preceded in death by her father, Edward, and her mother, Thelma. She is survived by her three children, Kenneth Ruiz, Anna Araya (husband John Araya) and Robert Ruiz (fiancé Helen Fancik), her grandsons Justin Araya and Dean Araya, her sister Mary Lou (Seidlitz) Andresen of Mesa, Arizona and brother Timothy Howard Seidlitz (Janice Seidlitz) of Dunsmuir, California, and several other loving nieces, nephews and family members.

She will be greatly missed by all and always reminded us to live life to the fullest.

Graveside burial and celebration of life services will be held on Friday, February 7, 2020. Flowers are welcome. Contributions may also be made to Carol's favorite charity St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 

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