Amy Rusak Obituary
December 30, 1978-July 17, 2024
With deep sorrow the family of Amy Louise Patricia Rusak, announce her peaceful passing on Wednesday July 17, 2024. Amy directed her personal care all her life and the services of MAID allowed her to leave on her own terms. Amy was the beloved daughter of Carol and Peter Rusak.
Amy’s creative expression knew no limits—what would our home be without celebrating every fall on our front deck with pumpkins, gourds, cornstalks and bales of hay and every winter with a lighted blowup snowman or some other creature that glowed warmly and then froze to the ground until spring. Halloween meant several jack-o’- lanterns, (carved expertly by her Dad…the Blue Jay logo in ’93 the best) and cobwebs and witchy branches. Our doorway greeted children with black and orange balloons she decorated with paper cut-outs to look like scary jellybeans. For many years Amy sold her home-made soaps of every fragrance at craft shows.
Amy’s Story Hour was an annual summer event enjoyed by young children of our neighbourhood for several years. She provided games, crafts, snacks and engaged the kids with a compelling, interactive story. A newspaper article covered Amy’s Story Hour which sparked interest in the principal of Kingsway Park School to replicate it as part of a soft transition for students moving up from grade 3 at Hyde Park School to Kingsway.
While at Westgate High School, Amy earned her way to perform as part of the chorus in a production of Brigadoon. With good support and ingenuity by teachers, she actively participated and contributed to its success and positive reviews.
Amy’s best creative expression and the most important to her, was the development of two personas—Flutterbee the Clown and Jingles the Elf. Both allowed her to extend her connection to the community bringing joy and delight wherever she went. Flutterbee, an official graduate of Clown School 29 years ago, has entertained at many events throughout the city, particularly the Thunder Bay Children’s Festival held annually in June for about 15 years. Flutterbee had the role of busker and roaming entertainer/director. Amy advanced her clowning skills at Clown Camp in Wisconsin for several summers where she had the enviable feeling of ending each day with sore ribs from laughing so much and so hard. It gave her great pleasure and a sense of pride to teach and mentor other clowns on how to interact with people with disabilities.
Jingles the Elf was a regular at Some Kind of Christmas Show—an annual variety, vaudeville-type show at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium for 25 years. The Show was free and encouraged families to attend and donate a food item to charity. Amy developed a close connection to the entertainers and to “the gang” at the Auditorium, especially the show’s creative director Arlene King. Arlene, along with some of the entertainers and “the gang” have provided Amy with loving support for the past many months including live performances at her hospital bedside. Another “gang” that was a big part of her life were the Jasper tenants in the building where Amy and her sweet cat Lily lived for 16 years. The many festivities organized by the Jasper tenants (Led by Feathers, Joy and Karen) included BBQs, parties, Karioke, bingos, and a camping weekend at Wilderness Discovery. The Jasper “gang” were ongoing visitors who brought baking, more baking, loving kindness and lots of laughs.
Amy’s thirst for adventure was supported by her travel allies (Wendy, Lisa, Bekkie) allowing her to explore Montreal, Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto, Minneapolis and San Diego. Highlights included attending the Paralympics, visiting her dear Auntie Pat, cousin Vanessa, Uncle Michael, and Uncle Al, dining in fine restaurants, attending live theatre and going up in a hot air balloon designed especially for people with disabilities.
Perhaps her ultimate adventure, combined with her commitment to community service, was expressed when she repelled down 14 stories of Maple Crest Towers as a fund raiser for Easter Seals 3 years in a row. She was known as the Barrier Breaker and was the first person in Thunder Bay to rappel down a building in a manual wheelchair.
While at Confederation College completing her General Arts and Science Diploma, Amy became very involved in the Equity Committee and for three years worked with others in creating policy that supported meeting the needs of a more diverse student body.
Social Justice had always been a motivator for Amy. She declared her support of the 2SLGBTQIA community with posters in her apartment windows and actively participated in protests to fight back against the aggressive threats imposed upon them. She was in solidarity with Ukraine to defend its freedom against the full-scale invasion by Russia. “We Stand with Ukraine” is emblazoned across her windows. For 16 years Amy was a member of the board of directors of Wesway, a respite care agency. She also entertained as Jingles at their Christmas parties and volunteered at many other of their events.
Amy enjoyed her 18-year career at Confederation College. She began by researching the diversity policies across other educational organizations in Ontario. She then joined the Registrar’s office as an information specialist where she dealt closely with students looking to enrol in College programs. She brought hard work, passion and enthusiasm to her role each day. She had a positive impact on her team and the College.
It was Amy’s sense of humour and inner strength that pulled her through difficulties and at the same time endeared people to her. She lived to laugh, and she laughed to live. She loved her family, her friends and her many pets. But most of all, she was loved by everyone.
Amy is survived by her mother, Carol, Auntie Pat, Cousins Carol, Larry, Robbie, Vanessa, Ben and Zach. She was predeceased by her father Peter, brother John, Auntie Laurie, Auntie Joanne, Uncle John, Uncle Michael and her dear Baba Helen Coski.
Amy’s family is forever grateful for the love and support generously given to her by family and friends, the Clown Club and the professional medical care of doctors, nurses, PSWs, and RTs.
A CELEBRATION OF LIFE was held on JULY 22 at 11 a.m. at The Italian Cultural centre on Algoma Street.