We Remember

BACH, Laura Elsie (née Brister, née Russell)

December 28, 1924 — January 21, 2026

Born on December 28, 1924, Laura Elsie Bach passed away on January 21, 2026, at the remarkable age of 101.

Laura lived a long life and did not waste it. She was headstrong and stubborn (by her own admission) but she was also deeply kind, sharp-witted, with a grand smile and a great laugh. Those who knew her well knew that her and resilience and strength were earned, shaped by many a hardship. She had opinions, she expressed them clearly, and she stood her ground, and (when the moment called for it) she had a sharp tongue; she also loved fiercely and gave generously of her time, her skills, and her care. She was proud to be mother to her four boys and bragged about them often (just, not about their looks)!

She worked as a medical secretary for a neurosurgeon and plastic surgeon, a role that suited her precision, intelligence, and no-nonsense manner.

Music was one of the great constants of Laura’s life. She began playing the piano at the age of nine and carried that love through the decades. Laura also loved to cook and took real pleasure in feeding people. She travelled south often to visit family in the United States and stayed closely connected to those she loved, no matter the distance. She enjoyed curling (both playing and watching) and was a devoted baseball fan, particularly when the Blue Jays were on the screen.

Laura was predeceased by her second husband, John Bach, as well as her first husband, Charlie Brister. Others who also went before her include: her daughter-in-law Sharon; her granddaughter Valerie and her grandson Brandon Vitta; her brother Melvin Russell; and her brother Newell and sister-in-law Sheila Russell.

She is survived by her children Russell Brister, Brian Brister (Daphne Stuckless), Cam Brister, and Thomas Brister; her grandchildren Ryan (Julia), Darlene, Alexandra, and Meleena; and her great-grandchildren Montana and Ella. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Loreen Russel, her cousin Hazel Copeland, and many other loving extended family members in the Russell, Brister, and Bach families.

Laura’s life was long, full, and unmistakably her own, and she will be remembered with affection and a smile.

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