Dena Bachi

Crystal Dena Bachi was a soldier, an engineer and a truck driver who would certainly have continued accumulating accomplishments if given the chance. Dena lived and strived to constantly gain more knowledge with every passing day.

Dena was born in Traverse City, Michigan on May 26, 1981 to Tillman and Barbara (Carpenter) Bachi. After graduating from Elk Rapids High School in 1999, Dena enlisted in the U.S. Army. She did her basic training at Ft. Jackson and, while at Ft. Lee, Virginia, she trained as a Unit Supply Specialist and was deployed to Iraq for a short tour. Sgt. Bachi finished her service honorably as a unit armorer for the 8th Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne) at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

Doing difficult things came naturally to her. After her Army enlistment, Dena attended college at North Western Michigan and then earned her Bachelor’s degree in Applied Engineering at MSU. She then got a job as a mud engineer for Halliburton working on oilrigs. From there, she worked for Charter Cable and Target for a short term and moved on to earning her commercial license to drive eighteen-wheelers for Werner. There was no stopping her. She was fiercely intelligent, driven and motivated, possibly intimidating if not for her radiant smile as distinct as it was disarming.

Shortly after earning her CDL, Dena was on the open road for her first solo trip hauling materials from Ohio to Texas, the state she called home, when she realized something was definitely wrong. Four months after being diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive cancer, on November 30, 2020, humanity lost one of its rising stars.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Lloyd and MaryLou Bachi and Marcel and Bonnie Carpenter and uncle, Michael Carpenter.

Left to mourn Dena’s loss and honor her life are her parents, Tillman and Barbara, brother, Devin and stepbrother, Todd Phillips.

A Memorial Service officiated by Pastor Brian Conover, with Military Honors will be on Saturday, December 12 at 11:00 at East Bay Calvary Church, 2225 E Hammond Road in Traverse City.

Please make memorial contributions in memory of Dena to Fisher House, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, 2215 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. They provide free, temporary lodging to military and veteran families during a medical crisis and are funded by donations.

Arrangements are entrusted to Covell Funeral Home, Traverse City.