Jane Lee Cochran

Jane (Lee) Cochran, 97, passed away peacefully at her home on September 24, 2025. Jane was born in 1927 in Cincinnati, Ohio. She grew up in Massachusetts and graduated from Mount Holyoke college with a degree in Chemistry. After college she moved to New Haven, where she worked in a research lab at Yale Medical School. It was while living in New Haven that she was introduced by friends to Larry Cochran, a young engineer at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. Jane and Larry married in 1952, first residing in East Hartford and then moving to Manchester, where they raised their family and lived for the rest of their lives.

Jane was a faithful member of Center Congregational Church in Manchester for almost 50 years. She was an active participant in church life, serving as a deacon and member of various committees. Along with Larry, she enjoyed leading discussion groups about books, current events, and other topics relevant to their faith.

Her friends will remember Jane as a lifelong cat lover, and for her passion for puzzles, games, riddles and poems. She was especially fond of writing lighthearted poems to and about her friends, often to recount experiences they'd shared together.

Jane is survived by her daughters Virginia Stumpff of Rio Rancho, NM and Catherine Cochran Fry of Middle Haddam, CT, and their husbands. She is predeceased by her husband of 67 years, John Larry Cochran, who died in 2019, and her son John Robert Cochran, who died in 2023.

A Memorial Service will be held at Center Congregational Church, on October 18, 2025, at 11 a.m. with refreshments to follow.

 Burial will be private.

 In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Center Congregational Church, 11 Center Street, Manchester, CT 06040. 

To leave an online condolence please visit www.holmeswatkins.com