Leota Marie (Cara) Ruby

Leota "Lee" Marie (Cara) Ruby, 84, of Hamilton, NJ, entered into her eternal rest with the Lord on March 24, 2024, Palm Sunday.  Born in Hazleton, PA, after Lee raised her daughter in Manville, NJ she moved to Ventnor City for 30 years prior to moving to Hamilton, NJ to be near her daughter.  She retired as a Vice President of the Bank of America Branch in Margate, NJ in 2004 after more than 40 years of dedicated employment in banking.  

Lee was very socially and civically active throughout her life.  She attended many Roman Catholic churches near her home in Ventnor and frequently called herself a “roaming Catholic”.  She served as a Eucharistic minister for Our Lady Star of the Sea Church as well as other churches in the area and gave communion to the ailing at Atlantic City Medical Center, and was a member of Mary Help the Christians in Atlantic City, NJ. She was a member of the Alley Cats, an organization dedicated to saving feral cats.  Lee served as a chaperone for many years to the young women in the Miss America pageant.  She was a member of the Red Hat Society and never one to let the grass grow under her feet, enjoyed traveling especially to Europe and her ancestral Italy.  She was also a member of the Sons of Italy.  Lee also loved to go camping at their place, Lake Adventure in the Poconos where she felt the happiest.

Lee served for the Democratic National Committee during campaigns, including past NJ Senator, Bill Bradley.  Lee was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend to many.

Daughter of the late Joseph and Thelma (Camodeca-Kender) Cara; sister of the late Marian Gano and Raymond Cara; Lee is survived by her loving daughter Cara Lee and husband Robert Verba; her brother, Joseph Cara; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.  As an avid cat lover, she is also survived by her two beloved fur babies, Andrea and Dante, who are being lovingly cared for by Cara and Robert.

Family and friends may pay their respects on Thursday, March 28, 2024 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Hamilton Brenna-Cellini Funeral Home, 2365 Whitehorse-Mercerville Rd., Hamilton, NJ 08619.  Catholic prayer services will be held at 11:00 AM at the funeral home.  Entombment will follow at Somerset Hills Memorial Park & Chapel in the Garden of Memories Mausoleum in Basking Ridge, NJ.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Leota’s memory to either the Michael J. Fox Foundation at www.michaeljfox.org or to the ASPCA at www.aspca.org  Please visit Leota’s tribute page at www.brennacellinifuneralhomes.com 

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