Carol Just-Rustici, 71, of Loveland, Colorado, died peacefully at home on February 2, 2026, surrounded by her family, after a 20-year journey with carcinoid cancer.

Carol was born on May 24, 1954, in Champaign, Illinois. Her early childhood included frequent moves before her family settled in Racine, Wisconsin, where she graduated from high school. She attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, earning a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design. In 1977, she was married to Dave and moved later that year to Loveland, Colorado, a place she proudly called home for the remainder of her life.

Carol devoted her life to her family and community as a stay-at-home mother. She was deeply involved in her children’s schools and volunteered consistently, creating a home that was open, welcoming, and full of warmth. She had a rare ability to make people feel immediately at ease, treating newcomers and longtime friends alike as family.

She was married to her husband, Dave, for 49 years. Together they raised two children, Matt and Jessie, and later delighted in being grandparents to Logan, Ella, Anna, and Raelyn. Time with her grandchildren, doing crafts, baking cookies and cakes, playing card games, and simply being together, brought Carol her greatest joy.

Creativity and curiosity shaped much of Carol’s daily life. She enjoyed card making, pottery, basket weaving, painting, and a wide range of crafts, often sharing these interests by teaching classes in her home. She was an avid gardener, tending a large vegetable garden and fruit trees at the Grove Court home where she lived for 34 years. She also loved baking, cake decorating, reading novels, solving Sudoku and solitaire, golfing, skiing, playing card games, and tackling home improvement projects.

Adventure was a defining thread throughout Carol’s life. She traveled to six continents, exploring countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, Oceania, South America, and the Caribbean. She climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, scuba-dived in extraordinary locations, and chartered sailboats with friends and family in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and South Pacific. During these travels, she made sure to take a moment each day to grab a drink and toast the sunset.  She loved trying new things and sharing the stories that came from those experiences.

Carol believed deeply in service and giving back. She volunteered for many years with KidsPak and Loveland Habitat for Humanity, where she helped build numerous homes and contributed meaningfully to her community through steady, hands-on commitment.

She is survived by her husband, Dave; her children, Matt (Katie) and Jessie (Zach); her grandchildren, Logan, Ella, Anna, and Raelyn; her sister Linda Lehner (husband Tom; children Carla and Nate); and her sister Ellyn Just. She also leaves behind cherished lifelong friendships, including her childhood friend Darlene Becker, and a close circle of families she met through a children’s playgroup, friendships that endured for decades, including more than 30 consecutive Thanksgiving gatherings at the Changstrom home.

A celebration of life will be held on February 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Viegut Funeral Home in Loveland, with a reception to follow. Guests are encouraged to dress comfortably and to bring a written memory of a time spent with Carol, along with a photo to share at the celebration.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carol’s memory to Loveland Habitat for Humanity. Contributions can be made online athttps://lovelandhabitat.charityproud.org/Donateor by mail to:Loveland Habitat for HumanityPO Box 56Loveland, CO 80539

Carol lived fully, with an open heart, a spirit of adventure, and a deep connection to the people she loved. Her life reminds us to welcome others generously, seek new experiences, and cherish the moments we share with the people we love. May we honor her memory by embracing the time we have with one another.