Mary Louise Cochran

Mary Louise (Meany) Cochran, 82, a former longtime resident of Burlington, MA, passed away peacefully on January 5th, with her family by her side in Walpole, MA.

Mary was born in Boston on February 14,1943 to John and Sara (McDonough) Meany, the second of four children and grew up in Roslindale. She attended St. Clare High School, Emmanuel College and Salem State University. Mary was the beloved wife of Paul M. Cochran, who passed away in 2003. Mary and Paul settled in Burlington and had four daughters: Susan Mary Cochran (Robert Hastings) of Pittsfield, VT, Patricia Cochran Edwards (Bruce) of Rowayton, CT, Jennifer Cochran Jennings (Louis) of Walpole, MA and Margaret Cochran Williams of Hudson, OH.

Mary's extraordinary friendships were an incredible testament to a lifelong bond of loyalty, love and caring. Helen (Struzziery) Gould, Jean (Condon) Lechtenberg, Mary Gail (Black) Walsh and Mary (Power) Desmarais (deceased) supported each other through life's journeys sharing adventures, school age escapades and special times over 75 years of friendship. Mary cherished these relationships.

Mary and Paul built a wonderful family life in Burlington and were involved in the community with friends and good neighbors on Fox Hill Road. They enjoyed many years at their vacation home in Pittsfield, VT where the town population would grow from 200 to 206 when the Cochran family drove up the hill. Mary was a voracious reader, passing her love of good books, puzzles and games to her children and grandchildren. Most of all Mary had the best sense of humor. she was funny, sarcastic, witty and kept her family on their toes.

Mary was a powerful role model for her four daughters. Once the girls were all in school, she was determined to complete her college degree and enrolled at Salem State University. She managed a fulltime college course load as well as her young family and earned her Bachelors degree in Psychology. Mary then began 30+ year teaching career in Burlington before establishing her history and civics profession at Waltham High School (MA). She was passionate about teaching, loved her students and enthusiastically supported their extracurricular clubs and meaningful interests.

After retirement, Mary moved to Plymouth, MA to be closer to her sister, Patricia Meany, and her friends on the south shore and Cape Cod. She then made a full time job out of spoiling her grandchildren with not just gifts, but love, music, and laughs. Mary's sassiness was undeniable and she always had the whole room laughing. She loved music and was always singing, she never forgot the words to her favorite songs.

Mary adored her seven grandchildren; Louie and Mary Lou Jennings, Madeleine and Sadie Edwards, and Adam, Jenny, and Patrick Williams. Mary is predeceased by her parents, husband, sister Sally Ann (Meany) Saisa and brother Thomas Meany. She is survived by her daughters, grandchildren, sister Patricia Meany of Plymouth, MA, sister-in-law Patricia (Cochran) Clark and Jack Clark of Ithaca, NY, sister-in-law Janis Meany of SC, and many nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, January 12th from 11AM-12:30PM immediately followed by a funeral service at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home 43 Winn Street, Burlington, MA 01803. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary's name to the employees of New Pond Village by sending a check made out to "Holiday Fund" 180 Main Street, Walpole MA 02081 with enormous appreciation for their personal loving care over the past 5 years.