Larisa was born in a small town in Ukraine where her maternal grandparents lived.  At one month of age, Larisa's family moved back to Moscow to live.  Her sister, Irina, was seven years older than Larisa.  The family lived in one room in a two-story building that housed 12 families per floor.  Each family had only one room to live in.  In 1941, Larisa's father was drafted into the Russian army and in August of that year Larisa, Irina and her mother were sent to Kemerova, Siberia.  Larisa got very sick on the journey which took two weeks by train.  She slept on the floor for those two weeks on top of their suitcases.  There was not a lot of food while in Siberia.  In 1943, Larisa's mother was told that if her mother would accompany a wounded soldier back to Moscow they could stay there but she could only take one daughter with her.  Irina, who was 11 years old at that time, was left in Siberia and stayed by herself until 1945 when she returned to Moscow.  Larisa's mother had to go to work to support them and Larisa stayed with a neighbor who had two children also.  Larisa still keeps in touch with that child today.  After her father returned from the war, he went back to work as a civil engineer.  Larisa and her sister went to public school.  A Jewish education was not allowed in Russia as well as there was no practicing of Judaism.   

Larisa married Alexander Ivanovich in 1960 and had one daughter, Elizabeth.   Coincidentally, Larisa's father and father-in-law were roommates in University and both moved to Moscow where they got jobs.  After each got married their wives became friends.  Life got very difficult in Moscow and Larisa's mom and aunt decided it was time to move to the United States where her nephew and his wife were living.  On July 1, 1991, Larisa, her mother and sister arrived in New York and a few days later came to Detroit where her sister's son was already living.  They lived with the nephew for about one month and then got their own apartment in Lincoln Towers.  Larisa's daughter had moved to Israel, gotten married and had two children, Miriam and Itai.  Larisa's husband followed the daughter to Israel.  Larisa's husband died at the age of 60 of a heart attack.   In 1999, Larisa's daughter, Elizabeth, moved to the United States with her husband and two children.  

That we should live in peace.  Future generations should get the best education they can.