Claire M. (Payne) Cochrane

CLAIRE M. (PAYNE) COCHRANE LISBON, NH -- The common thread throughout Claire's life was music and the arts. Always deeply committed and passionate about education and teaching children, she loved "her kids" like she loved her family. Claire was born in Warwick, RI in 1946 to Kenneth and Doris (Lafontaine) Payne. From an early age she excelled at dance and music, especially playing the piano. One special memory is of when Claire was drum majorette for the Warwick Veterans Memorial High School marching band and they marched in President Kennedy's inaugural parade. Even though she broke her foot and was in a cast for months, only being able to go without crutches shortly before the parade, she proudly led the band the entire parade route in freezing January weather. This is the type of woman and professional Claire was: devoted, committed, and hard working. Although retired from the Blue School in Landaff and from full-time teaching, Claire continued to educate by helping young pre-service teachers and teaching painting, piano, and sewing to a small group of private students. Most important to Claire was her family, and she especially enjoyed following the exploits of her three grandchildren and attending musical theater productions and painting with her husband. After a period of declining health, Claire Cochrane passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 12, 2018. She will be greatly missed by her family, her students, the local communities, and her many professional and personal friends and acquaintances. Claire is survived by her husband of 53 years, Ronald E. Cochrane, her sister Patricia and husband Thomas Adams of Exeter, RI, her daughter Carlene and husband Geoffrey Gadapee of Littleton, her daughter Elise and husband Michael McCaffrey of Manchester, her granddaughter Meghan Gadapee of Littleton, her grandson Sean McCaffrey and granddaughter Madison McCaffrey of Manchester, and her many cousins and other extended family and friends. "Thanks for the music." SERVICES -- The family will receive callers at the Pillsbury Phaneuf Funeral Home in Littleton on Tuesday, May 22 from 5-7 pm, and graveside services will be held at the Grove Hill Cemetery in Lisbon on Wednesday, May 23, at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the American Cancer Society.