Carla Lee Rusk

Our beloved matriarch, Dr. Carla Lee Petrovich passed away at her home surrounded by her family on October 26, 2024. God answered her prayer and she was called home. She was 84 years old, and passed away from many complications of cancer.

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 9th, 1940, Carla spent her childhood on a homestead in Alaska and they named it Naptowne, now called the City of Sterling. She met Albert Rusk Sr, in Anchorage, Alaska, and they celebrated 67 years of marriage before she passed. In 1966, Al and Carla moved to Thousand Oaks from Los Angeles with four children. Carla went on to college and graduated with a Phd. in Marriage and family Therapy. At one time, she ran four different offices in Ventura County. Carla's last practice was in Homer, Alaska. Carla was beloved by all that knew her. Her kind, gentle, compassionate nature blessed her family, friends, colleagues, and clients. Carla will be remembered for her unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ, generosity, grace, her desire to help others, her warmth, wisdom, her infectious laugh, and love for her family. One of her favorite scriptures was "You are my lamp O Lord, the lord turns my darkness into Light: 2nd Samuel 22:29. Carla loved the handwritten word, especially notes and letters from loved ones. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ Jesus."

Carla had many hobbies including reading, riding her motorcycles, and going on lots of fun trips with her daughter. Carla loved to write and is a published author. She was a gifted painter as well. But later in life her true north brought her back to her family.

She was preceded in death by her eldest son, Al Jr (Esther) on Sept. 19th, 2008. She is survived by her husband, Al Rusk, Sr., her children, Brian (Susie) Rusk, Gabrielle (Mitch) Lampert, John (Divina) Rusk; grandchildren: Brandon (Desiree) Kiefer, Casey (Sara) Kiefer, Lindsey (Andrew) Rusk, Elizabeth Crow Rusk, Nicole Pinkard Rusk, Katelyn Rusk, John Rusk Jr., Aimee (Mac Sr.) McKinley, Danny (Marissa) Lampert, Logan (Kirstin) Lampert; great grandchildren: Madison, Taylor, Jackson, and Grant Kiefer, Mac McKinley Jr., Gavin McKinley, Georgia Lampert, Livia Lampert, Ezra Crow, Emma Crow, Billy Joe Lee Lampert, Emmalyn Rusk, Wyatt Rusk, Mason John Rusk.

Her remains will be returned to Homer, Alaska, where a private family service will be held on June 9, 2025, on what would have been her 85th birthday.

At this time, our family asks for privacy to grieve and to come to terms with the impossibility of saying goodbye to our beloved Matriarch. We will see you again in heaven,

The family would like to thank Access TLC Hospice nurses and doctors for how they showed her much compassion in Carla's final days.

The family would like to share a message from Howard...

First, my thanks to the Rusk family for giving me the opportunity to share, in writing, a few of my special memories and stories about Carla, my long time friend and colleague. Our friendship began at the Ventura Counseling Center over 40 years ago. She already was one of their licensed therapists and I was just beginning my internship. Then, after I became licensed along with Kris Donna Mack, the three of us established Associates In Counseling in Camarillo. We continued working together in this private practice office for five years.

Today, as I think about Carla, certain character qualities come to mind... Love of our Lod, love of her family/friends/neighbors, an empathic listener, authentic, genuine, a wonderful therapist, a fun sense of humor, just to name a few. I'd like to share a story or two that might demonstrate a few of Carla's positive character traits.

This Carla/Howard story happened about 35 years ago. After a very difficult, anger filled, emotional and challenging therapy session, I immediately left the Counseling Center to attend a dinner party that included about a dozen friends. There was no way I could share with them any of the turmoil I had just experienced. I needed to "pretend" all was OK with me. later, on another day, as I shared with Carla about that "crazy" session and then as I discussed the contrasting mellow dinner party that followed, I told her about all I could get out of my mouth at the dinner table was "please pass the peas!" After sharing this story with Carla, a few days later I received a huge box wrapped in party paper. Opened it and there was another smaller wrapped box inside. An the, one more smaller wrapped box. Inside that tiny box was a Lego size bowl of green peas! She had just demonstrated her fun sense of humor, but more than that, she had listened to me with empathy about my challenging evening going directly from the counseling office to that very relaxed dinner party and thinking later, maybe there was a lesson to be learned from my experience. Over my counseling years, I've had many more days just like that where I've needed to remember to keep it simple and just say "please pass the peas!" I still have Carla's "bowl of peas".

After my retirement to the Palm Springs area and with both Carla and Kris Donna winding down their counseling careers, the three of us would meet at least once a year at Noah's NY Bagels in Camarillo to catch up! Most of our time together lasted 2-3 hours. Usually with lots of laughter, but also, on occasion, included some tears too. Miss those special days!

My last conversation with Carla was on the phone, a few weeks before she died. She had called because she wanted to say, "goodbye for now, but I'll be seeing you next in Heaven!" And, what a wonderful reunion it will be!

I continue to miss my long time friend, Carla. But, our shared experiences and fun memories together, that made up our wonderful long term friendship, I'll never forget. "Please pass the Peas!"

My Heart Tribute to Carla, from Kris Donna

Carla My Dear Friend,

When I think of you I can still hear your pleasant, soothing tone of voice. I also remember your adventurous spirit with you Honda motorcycle. I admired the trip you took from Thousand Oaks all the way up North to San Francisco. You did it by yourself as your children, I am sure, were on their knees praying. I love you independence and spirit of risk taking.

Another adventure I recall Carla, was a trip you took to Alaska. As I remember, I believe that it was with you brother and you drove out to a remote place in Alaska. You shared that you stopped at a vista point to enjoy the view of the mountains. You both sat for an hour together and said nothing to each other. You commented to me that there were no sounds and just "SILENCE". Your expressed the beauty of "SILENCE"; we often forget in our busy, bustling, noisy world.

Carla, you had a God given gift for counseling. Such wisdom you would share with me when i felt stuck with a current client. You loved our Lord and He was in every aspect of your life from counseling, family, friendships, in your home, church, and personal life.

I miss you so much and that God that you called me to say goodbye when you knew the end of your life was very near. I had the privilege to share my love for you and say a final goodbye. That must have been extremely difficult for you and a gift you gave me that I cherish.

I shall now temporarily say goodbye until I see you again in Heaven with your healthy, spiritual body.

Love, Kris Donna

Sharing the Full and Wonderful Life of My Friend, Carla Rusk- from Kathy Gardner

Carla was the kindest and truest friend a person could have. And most importantly she was a Christian. Carla not only believed in The Lord, but strived to live according to his commands. I met Carla in 1997, in Homer, Alaska; she was a new client at my little hair salon. Little did we know we would become wonderful friends and find that we had man shared connections between our two families. Carla's family in 1947 drove from Indianapolis to Alaska to start their own town and have a great new adventure in life. After arriving in Seward, Alaska, they went on sto start the town of Naptowne on the Kenia Peninsula. My family knew her parents and even Carla as a small child. So fun to find these connections years later between Carla and my family. Carla and her brother Pete even wrote a wonderful book about their early life homesteading in Alaska- "Naptowne (The Kids Story)".

Carla would tell about how she met the love of her life, Albert Rusk. He was in the Air Force and stationed at Elmendorf Air Base at the time. They were married shortly after and moved to California so Al could get his commercial pilots license. Al flew for years with Western Airlines until retirement age. Carla went on to get her Doctorate in Psychology and worked as a therapist for years. Carla and Al went on to have a wonderful full life with children, grandchildren and even a few great-grandchildren.

Carla and Al always dreamed of moving back to Alaska, so after Al retired they and the big move, back to Alaska; Homer this time.

One day while visiting, Carla shared about her love of motorcycles and how she owned several of them through the years. She could be seen zipping around Homer on her champagne colored Honda.

Carla even came out of retirement and went on to open her own Therapy Clinic in Homer for several years.

Carla and Al made the decision to return to California as soon as possible after hearing their son was diagnosed with brain cancer. Unfortunately, he lost his battle with cancer soon after they arrived.

It's hard to not have my dear friend here, but I am thankful she is no longer suffering and is pain free, and reunited with her loved ones in Heaven.

The legacy of Carla and Al lives on in the lives of their daughter, Gabrielle, and sons Brian and John; and the memory of their son, Al Jr. Plus all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Each of us has our own special set of memories that we shared with Carla, whether you worked with her, went to PTA meetings, church, or just had a chance to share in each other's lives. Carla was a wonderful, caring person and a true friend. I pray that each of is can keep our memories of Carla alive in our hearts and remember the wonderful times we shared with her.

Prayers for each and every one of you and may we all meet again in Heaven, when our time comes.

God Bless You All