Grace B. Cochran

Grace Cochran, the spirited and witty matriarch of the Cochran family, passed away on September 8, 2024. Born on February 8, 1932, in Floral Park, New York, Grace was a beacon of loyalty and perseverance, always leading by example and instilling in her family the principle that mattered most to her: doing the right thing. As George Eliot once wrote, "What do we live for, if not to make life less difficult for each other?" Grace embodied this ethos in every endeavor, from her career as an office representative at New York Telephone to her tireless role as a homemaker.

Grace was a woman of many talents and interests. An avid reader, she often had a book in her hand and a recommendation on her lips. Her love for bridge was just as strong, as she embraced the game's strategic challenges and social aspects. In her younger years, she graduated from Sewanhaka High School and Penn State College, before moving to Niagara Falls and eventually settling in Gardner, Massachusetts, in 1962. Grace's spirited independence and strong will were evident in her life journey, making her an anchor and a role model for her family.

Grace is survived by her sons, David Cochran and William Cochran (Marilyn), and her daughter, Deborah Cochran. She also leaves behind her brother, George Bickelhaupt (Mary). 

Grace was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert Cochran, her parents, George and Mildred Bickelhaupt, and her step-sister, Lillian Flavin. "Life is eternal, and love is immortal," wrote Mary Elizabeth Frye, and Grace's love and spirit will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024 at 11:30 am in the Mack Family Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner.  

A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, September 20, 2024 from 10 am - 11:30 am.   

To honor Grace's memory, we invite you to leave your memories and upload photos to the memorial page at www.mackfamilyfh.com. As you share your stories, may you remember the joy, laughter, and wisdom that Grace brought into our lives.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made in Grace's memory to the Levi Heywood Memorial Library, 55 W. Lynde St., Gardner, MA 01440.

Mack Family Funeral Home, 105 Central St., Gardner is directing arrangements.

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor and Melissa A. McQuaid Directors.