WINTHROP — Jeannine C. Cochran, 87, with her loving husband of 63 years by her side and embraced by the love of God and her adoring children, died peacefully at home on Friday, Feb. 17, after a very brief and aggressive illness.

Jeannine, the second youngest of seven children, was born Dec. 17, 1929, to the late Thomas and Rose (Boucher) McKeone in Lewiston. She was raised and educated in Lewiston and then proudly went to clerk at the Androscoggin Woolen Mill. From there she went on to work at Patron’s Insurance in Auburn where she made lovely lifelong friends who have predeceased her.

Mom had a melodious voice. In her younger years, together with her girlfriend Glo, sisters Lolly and Arline, wearing gowns sewn by her very own mother, performed as the Melody Maids, entertaining at local dining clubs and various events and even cutting a couple of records. During this time is when she met a handsome young sailor by the name of Robert Cochran, whom she married on April 24, 1954.

Together they created wonderful homes and a family. She soon left working outside the home to become a full-time homemaker. It was important to our mother that she create and maintain a healthy and happy household which she achieved with great success. It was rare that one couldn’t hear laughter coming from every corner of our welcoming home. Another of her great accomplishments, she liked to relate every now and again is how she was nearly arrested when President John Kennedy was campaigning in Lincoln Park in Lewiston and she was able to slip by and get so close to him she was able to touch his cashmere coat and just as he smiled at her an officer hauled her off away from him. I expect she flashed one of her engaging smiles at the officer who promptly let her and her friends on their merry ways.

Our fathers’ job took the family from Lewiston, to a brief residence in Augusta, to the family’s favorite residence in Boothbay Harbor, and finally settling in Winthrop. These moves were very minor challenges to this woman who, with our father, easily turned the houses into homes that our childhood friends wanted to visit frequently.

She will be remembered as a charming, gregarious, selfless lady with an infectious laugh. She was an avid reader, loved table games (Scrabble especially) crossword puzzles and cryptograms. One could often find her in her favorite corner rocker reading and working her puzzles.

Mom was predeceased by her brothers Robert, Lionel and Lucien McKeone; and sisters and their spouses, Lolly (Donald) LaPointe, Arline (Harold) Harris;, and her favorites Doris and (Bert) Mailhot.

She is survived by her husband of nearly 63 years; her cat, Sweetie of 21 years; her beloved children and grandchildren; daughters and sons-in-law, Cindy (Barry) Crowell of Winthrop; Rhonda (Rick) Gillespie of Winthrop; Judy (Mike) Cummings of Oconowonomoc, Wisc.; and son, Bobby Cochran of Winthrop; grandsons, Casey (Nicole) and great-grandson Reed Gillespie of Belgrade; Corey (Marianne) Gillespie of Winthrop; granddaughter, Lyndsay Cochran of Austin, Texas; her sister-in-law, Celine McKeone of Florida; and several dear nieces and nephews.

Memories, condolences and photos may be shared with the family at www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

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