Jill Stephanie Shirk Cockrell

1938 - 2022

Jill Cockrell was born in Chicago, IL, to Mae Elise Meier and John R. Shirk on August 6, a special day shared with her father and her grandson, Theo Joseph Cockrell. Beloved wife of the Rev. Ernest Cockrell for almost 60 years, Jill was a deeply kind and loving mother to Stephanie Elise Lyon and John Cockrell, and a devoted "Gigi" to Theo, to Jamie and John Lyon, and loving mother-in-law to Theresa Bruno and Barry Lyon. She was a much beloved sister to Judy Mae Barr, her husband, Gareth, and their late brother, Jack Shirk. One of the first graduates of Northwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City, she attended Elmhurst College in Illinois, graduated from Oklahoma City University in 1960, and taught 4th graders in Oklahoma City, Des Plaines, IL, and Lexington, MA. Jill served as a founding board member and Bereavement Coordinator of Lighthouse Hospice. For 25 years she was a welcoming presence at St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church in Marion, MA; and for 15 years at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Saratoga, CA, serving among other duties as a leader for Stephen's Ministry. She was a loving member of Chapter AQ of P.E.O. and assistant director of Camp Mishawaka for Boys in Grand Rapids, MN. A vociferous reader, she was skilled at sewing, quilting and needlepoint, and was a superb cook. Jill visited every state in the Union, and traveled in 25 foreign countries, assisting with pilgrimages to Israel, Palestine and Jordan. A generous, loving spirit with a tremendous sense of humor and a profoundly generous heart, Jill was a kind, deeply trusted friend to many. In August of 2021 Jill entered Memory Care in Oakmont of San Jose where she was well cared for in her struggle with Alzheimer's Disease, dying a peaceful death there on December 3.Her Memorial Eucharist will be celebrated at 2:00 o'clock on January 21 at Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, 13601 Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga, followed by burial and reception there. Gifts in Jill's memory may be given to Canterbury Foundation, P.O. Box 235, Alviso, CA 95002, for its project to help students dealing with housing insecurity at San Jose State.