Mrs. Erna Liesa Bach

Erna Liesa Bach, 95, died on Monday, January 1, 2018 at Berkshire Medical Center. She had resided at Berkshire Place most recently after happily living in her home by Pontoosuc Lake for 60 years. Erna was born on March 9, 1922 in Schoenau, Germany. She was the daughter of Karl and Marie Kern Bender. In 1947 she married Werner Bach. They immigrated in 1952 to St Jean, Quebec with their two oldest children. In 1957, Werner accepted a position with G.E. and the family moved to Pittsfield. Erna was always very proud that despite the hardships of the war and the turmoil it caused in their early lives, Werner was able to attain his goal of becoming an engineer and she was able to work to help make it possible. They became U.S. citizens in 1962. Erna graduated from commercial school in Germany and worked in offices there. Despite having quickly mastered English, Erna wished to further develop her English skills and knowledge of U.S. history, so she attended night school and in 1969 earned a diploma from Pittsfield High School. Once her children were grown, she returned to work in the billing department at Crescent Creamery. She was later employed in the records department at Berkshire Life Insurance Company, retiring in 1984. Erna was an avid tennis player well into her 70’s. She enjoyed swimming and had been a member of YMCA’s Ponterril Club. Many happy summer days were spent there. Travel was very important to Erna. She and Werner took many great vacations together in their travel trailer. Following his death, she visited her sister in Germany twice a year up until age 85. She travelled extensively in Europe and the U.S., visiting relatives and taking excursions to many interesting locations. Erna’s greatest pleasure was spending time with her family. She was proud of all of her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and her one great- grandson. She, often, commented that she enjoyed sitting and watching them interact at family gatherings. Erna took many beautiful photographs to chronicle these events. She also enjoyed reading romance novels and had a huge paperback collection of them. Erna was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsfield. Erna was predeceased by her husband, Werner, in 1984, and her sister Helga Antes in 2016. She is survived by two sons, two daughters and their spouses: Wolfgang and Susan Bach of Dalton; Edith and Michael Allen of Riverside, CA and Lenox; Winfried and Kathleen Bach of Ashland, MA; Ellen and Andrew Amstutz of NYC. She also leaves six grandchildren: Lisa Jarvis (husband Brian); Peter, Michael and Nathan Bach; Natalie and Caroline Amstutz; and a great-grandson Dustin Jarvis. In addition, she is survived by beloved nieces and cousins in Germany. The family wishes to thank the staff at Berkshire Place for the care and compassion they showed to Erna during her months living there. FUNERAL NOTICE- Funeral services will be held at Wellington Funeral Home in Pittsfield on Saturday January 13, 2018 at 10:00AM with Pastor Timothy Weisman of Zion Lutheran Church officiating. Burial in Pittsfield Cemetery will follow. There will be no calling hours. Donations in Erna’s memory may be made to Berkshire County Meals on Wheels or Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsfield, MA in care of the funeral home, 220 East St., Pittsfield, MA 01201.

Mrs. Erna Liesa Bach

March 9, 1922 - January 1, 2018