Carol Brusa

1960 - 2021

It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of Carol Hopkins Brusa. Born on May 25, 1960 in Hartford, CT, Carol grew up in Granby, CT, where she attended Granby Memorial High School and Southern Connecticut State University for her Bachelor's Degree and Central Connecticut State University for her Master's Degree in Special Education. Upon her graduation in 1982 from Southern CT, Carol began her career as a Special Education teacher with the Farmington public school system where she focused on helping kids with developmental, emotional, and physical disabilities. Just this past year, Carol announced her retirement from the West Hartford public school system after 30+ years of teaching, in what was much more than a profession, it was a calling. As a child, Carol loved to be read to and played with by her parents who adored her. She didn't seem to mind when her brother was born four months after her first birthday and her little sister arrived when she was five years old, Carol immediately became the big sister who watched out for her younger siblings. Her creative capabilities started early as she had a beautiful singing voice, played the guitar and was a master with all types of arts and crafts. As a young adult, she knew that she was drawn to the teaching profession, specifically Special Education where so many in the world focus on the limitations of these children but Carol had the gift to focus on their loving hearts and hidden talents. While teaching in West Hartford, CT, she and two colleagues began a program called WAAVE (West Hartford Applied Academic & Vocational Experience) which offered classes to students after high school. It was one of the first programs of its kind in the country focusing on personal and social independence, self-care and vocational and community-based experiences. Carol had an amazing imagination for ways to make learning fun for students allowing them to be able to thrive. It is estimated that her heart and soul touched well over 1,000 students and their families over her lengthy career. Besides her career, Carol's other love was her own family. Her two children, Philip and Alyssa, have always been the light of her life. She was a kind and gentle mother and more recently an adoring grandmother. The special bond she shared with her first grandchild, Paige, was always filled with joy, play, and giggles. Carol was incredibly proud of her son's accomplishments as a small business owner and her daughter's determination and success in nursing school. Her committed and adoring husband Michael was a former high school sweetheart who had lost touch over the years, but, when a mutual friend heard they were both single, she encouraged them to reconnect. They did. They immediately became soulmates and best friends. Michael's love and devotion to her during her illness knew no bounds. She cherished every moment she had with her family. Those in Carol's universe adored her loving heart, her infectious laugh, quick witted humor and her deeply selfless soul. She is survived by her husband, Michael Brusa; her daughter, Alyssa Rosenbluth and her husband Zachary Rosenbluth; and their daughter, Paige Elizabeth Rosenbluth, all of Vernon, CT; her son, Philip DelTatto and his life partner Danielle Dubois of Jacksonville, FL; her parents, Philip B. Hopkins, Jr. and Elizabeth P. Hopkins of Durham, NC; her brother, Philip B. Hopkins III and his wife Lori Hopkins of Windsor, CT; her sister, Pamela Hopkins and her wife DeeDee Bollong of Oakland, CA; two nieces, Rebecca Hopkins and her husband Brandon Forrester of Hartford, CT, and Luci Hopkins-Nickel of Oakland, CA; a nephew, Tim Hopkins of Woodstock, GA; and a large extended family and an even bigger universe of friends and colleagues. A private family celebration will be held for Carol. An in-person celebration will take place once all can gather safely later this year. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Carol Brusa Memorial Fund, c/o Windsor Federal, 250 Broad Street, Windsor, CT 06095. This fund will be supporting Special Education students and their families at Conard High School. The family is also dedicating a bench in the Elizabeth Park rose garden and should be installed no later than summer of 2021. Both the fund and the bench will serve as a way to honor Carol's legacy of bringing love and light to all she touched. Hayes-Huling & Carmon Funeral Home in Granby has care of the arrangements. For online condolences please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com.