Obituary of Laurel Ellen Bentley

Cohoes – Laurel “Laurie” Bentley (Johnson) 69, of Cohoes, NY passed into eternal peace at home on January 17, 2024, after a long illness, with her husband Dave and loving sons Scott and Greg by her side. She was born in Troy, NY on September 20, 1954, to the late Lorraine M. Stebbins and Leonard C. Johnson. She proudly graduated from St. Jude the Apostle School in Wynantskill, and Catholic Central High School in Troy, NY, Class of 1972. She worked 34 years as a federal government employee. During her employment, she worked for the IRS, the Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS), Siena College ROTC, and retired from Benet Labs at the Watervliet Arsenal in 2008. She was married to her best friend, David Bentley, for nearly 48 years. They had a wonderful life together, and in retirement spent their spare time traveling, seeing shows, and being with their four granddaughters. Laurie took great pleasure in spending time outdoors and working in the garden. When she wasn’t busy outside and being active, she enjoyed crafting and baking. The thing that brought her the most joy and happiness was being with her granddaughters. She was so proud of her girls and would do anything for them. She loved her two daughters-in-law Nicole and Kristen who were just like her own daughters. Family meant more to Laurie, than anything else in life. In addition to her husband Dave, surviving to cherish her memory are her sons, Scott Bentley (Nicole), Greg Bentley (Kristen) and her beloved granddaughters Charlotte, Whitney, Caroline, and Nora Bentley. Her sister and best friend, Leslie Johnson, and brother Leonard “Skip” Johnson (sons, Justin and Brendan Johnson, daughter Heather Lepine) who affectionately gave Laurie the nickname “Kitch”, and were always by her side. Her good friend and sister-in-law Carol Orlyk (late John), brothers-in-law, James Bentley (Late Monica), Dale Bentley (Rita Garzone), brother-in-law Robert Messier (late Jacqueline Bentley Messier) and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Father Brian Kelly, St. Ambrose Church, Latham, NY for giving Laurie “The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick”, Dr. Irina Kaplan, Family Physician, and Nurse Melanie Van Dusen who were always there for her, Surgeon Dr. Gregory Field who was so kind, Dr. David Strumph for his 14 years of her Sarcoidosis care and the many Oncologists from St. Peter’s Breast Cancer Center at Samaritan Hospital who took care of her over the last 10 years.  The St. Peter’s Community Hospice, especially Nurse Marita Breen and the entire staff for their kind help, Frank and Adel Soucy for always being there. The family would like to thank our father Dave who was by our mother Laurie’s side their entire marriage and her long illness. Also sons Scott for holding her hands and Greg who would hold his mother in his arms and comfort her when she was in distress. She went from Greg’s arms directly into the arms of the Lord. In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated in Laurie’s memory to Catholic Central School, Attn: Lily Spera, Co-Principal, 347 Old Loudon Rd., Latham, NY. At Laurie’s request there will be no funeral services. She will be laid to rest in St. Agnes Cemetery, Cohoes, NY, near her parents, Lorraine and Leonard Johnson and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Albina and John Bentley. For condolences, www.dufresnefuneralhome.com.