Carole April Bernstein

Carole April Bernstein was born on April 29, 1948 to Gertrude and Jerome Perlis in Chicago, Illinois. She met her beloved husband of 54 years and high school sweetheart, Mike, at a B’nai B’rith dance at 16 years old. They were married at 20 and moved to the Chicago suburbs.

Carole’s younger days were spent living in the “Kessel Garden on Chicago's Old West Side.” It was an apartment complex located on Independence and Arthington. This was an area where immigrants and new American citizens chose to live as one community helping newcomers acclimate to their new world. She had never forgotten her roots.

They relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico for Mike’s job as a buyer for Associated Grocers. They moved even further West and became residents of California, living there for the next 30 years. After 10 years of infertility, their first miracle child, Randy, was born and their life changed yet again. 12 years later their second miracle child, Janna, was born and their family was complete. Carole was her children’s biggest cheerleader and champion. She supported them in anything and everything they wished to accomplish whether that be in performing arts or educational endeavors. She would drop everything to be there; most likely with a camera in hand to capture the moment forever. Carole even served as the Editor of Janna’s doctoral dissertation utilizing her amazing rhetoric and writing skills.

Carole’s passion for helping others from all walks of life became ingrained in her soul even as a young child. As she entered her teens, she began finding connections for those in need of help in her community and beyond who were hungry for food and needed help with housing. The people wanted so much to find mentors to help themselves and their children learn new skills. Many of them never knew that one day they could graduate from a four-year college. She was a gifted artist attending the University of Illinois for Art and Education and later using her talents to create unique projects for her Girl Scouts and students.

Her career in Education began to focus on children with Special Needs, which became her life’s passion.

As colleagues would say, “She had the patience of an angel.” She worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District for 28 years and began her employment on October 2, 1987 at Capistrano Street Elementary School, one of the first schools with special needs students on a traditional campus. On September 3, 1996, she began working at Chatsworth High School in the Special Education department. Carole devoted her life to students with disabilities and for more than 12 years worked with severely mentally and physically handicapped children in the CBI (Community Based Instruction) classroom and spearheaded the first CBI Prom bringing students, faculty, staff, and community organizations together to celebrate these amazing individuals. Simultaneously, Carole worked as a religious school educator teaching Kindergarten-3rd grade children for over twenty years, served as a Girl Scout leader for 12 years, and the SAT Supervisor for gifted, college-motivated, and special needs students at Chatsworth for over fifteen years.

Carole spent the last years in Las Vegas with her daughter and husband exploring the many hidden treasures of the city, attending live shows, estate sale hoping, and craft shows, volunteering with the Sun City Anthem Havurah, teaching for the religious school and participating in the Morning Minyan at Temple Sinai, and serving as a Jameson Fellow.

Carole was a true life force. Her legacy will live on in the many people she touched through her kindness, care, and love.

Carole is survived by her children Dr. Janna Bernstein and Randy (Kharen) Bernstein, grandchildren Asher and Levi, brother-in-law Jeffrey Rosenfeld and nephews Steven and Daniel (Rachel). Carole is preceded in death by her husband, Mike Bernstein, sister Judy Rosenfeld, and parents Jerome and Gertrude Perlis.

Memorial services will be held on Sunday, June 11th at 11 am at King David Cemetery.