Purisima Corazon "Cora" "Lola" Bristow (Pamado)

Purisima Corazon “Cora” “Lola” Bristow, of Independence, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, August 11, 2021. She was 74 years old.

A visitation will be held 6-8 pm, Thursday, August 19, 2021, at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th Street, Independence, Missouri. Service to take place Friday, August 20, 2021, at 10 am also to be held at Speaks Suburban Chapel, interment to follow service at Woodlawn Cemetery in Independence, Missouri.

Cora was born and raised in the small village of Culion, Palawan, to parents Zachrius Pamado and Pilar Rodriguez.

In August of 1970, while still active in the Navy and stationed in the Philippines, a gentleman by the name of John Paul Bristow stopped into a little café, some may say the sounds of the beautiful playing of the piano drew him in, and some maybe divine intervention either or, when he walked in his life was forever changed. There, playing the piano, was Cora, just as beautiful as her song. Cora and John Paul fell fast in love and when John Paul finished his active duty, they made the move to the United States and wed on October 9, 1971 in Long Beach, California. Not long after, in early 1972, to be closer to family, they made the move to Independence, Missouri, Cora soon found work as a bookbinder and Cora and John Paul began to build their lives together. From this wonderful union they welcomed a son named Sean. Cora was sensational! To know her was to love her. She made fast friends and found special places to continue to play piano that brought love and joy to those who heard. She was so musically inclined, she would hear a song and be able to teach herself to play it either on the ukulele or the piano, often playing for hours. She was also famous with friends and family for her traditional cooking, with recipes not by paper but heart and memory that she carried with her from home. She loved her beautiful tropical plants and flowers and they loved her too, blessing her with a green thumb and lovely flowers to wear in her hair. She was also famous for gifting these flowers daily to those who crossed her path. Cora would play bingo a few nights a week and had a lot of friends there and always the best of luck, more often than not, yelling out “BINGO”. Cora was such a giving, loving woman with great faith and a tremendous heart. Just when she thought her heart couldn’t be happier, Cora became “Lola”, grandmother to precious Mya and Myland and her heart became complete. Her grandchildren were her very favorite thing in this world. She was their biggest cheerleader, and tootsie pop provider. Our world will never be the same, but the heavens will shine oh so bright, and when we are missing her the most, may we hear a little tune being hummed, the keys of a piano being played, the strings of a ukulele being strummed, the smile and kindness in a stranger’s eye, may we pluck a flower for our hair and or maybe see a pretty butterfly floating in the air. All these things are sweet Cora, but most of all, our hearts and love are her as well.

Cora is survived by her husband, John Paul Bristow; her son Sean (Melissa) Bristow; grandchildren, Mya and Myland Bristow; many extended family and friends, whom all loved her dearly.