In loving memory of Joan Syme Cochrane (nee Cooper).
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother Joan at the age of 91. She died early in the morning with her daughter Lauri by her side on July 28th in the Hospice at Nanaimo General Hospital.
Joan was born in Kindersley, Saskatchewan to Northern Irish immigrants Bill and Rachel Cooper. Four years later she, her parents, and her younger brother Richard (Dick) moved to Penn Saskatchewan (near Meadow Lake) and became homesteaders. Mom and Uncle Dick started school in a one room schoolhouse. Farming there was difficult, but Mom always had great memories of their friends and their happy times there.
When World War Two started Grandpa got a job at the Military Base in Vernon. After the War, he was hired at the mill in Chemainus. Mom was 16 and got a job at Clements Drug Store.
A frequent visitor to the Clements Soda Fountain everyday was our dad, Jimmy Syme. He always bought a paper and drank a coke. After a year, he got the courage to ask Joan out and Jimmy won her heart. A few years later on August 29, 1949, they were married at Calvary Baptist Church. Then came three children, two houses, many warm Christmas gatherings at Granny and Grandpa Syme's, and wonderful summer vacations on Skaha Lake.
Joan had great friendships including Anne Kerr and Georgina Hollett After we all left home, mom and dad were looking forward to a lifestyle of work and travelling but unfortunately our father Jim unexpectedly passed away on July 26, 1978.
Twelve years later mom married John Cochrane, fellow member of Calvary Baptist. They enjoyed their church, blended family, and travelling until John's passing several years ago.
Mom loved her church where she was involved in many activities. The dearest to heart was Mom's Morning Out where mothers of pre school children would have their children cared for while moms had coffee, discussed concerns, or had a guest speaker. She volunteered for over twenty years mostly because she said she wished she had a group like that when she was the mother of young children.
Joan is survived by her three children Bill [Carol], Linda [Pat], and Lauri [Harry]. She is also survived by her grandchildren Erik [Tasha], Lizzie [Andrew], Mary, Jimmy, and Billy [Lexie], and her great grandchildren Maya, Violet, Bennett, Sadie and Winter.
She had numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and is survived by brother-in-law Cliff and his wife Doreen who were very close to her heart. She is also survived by the Doug and Vickery Cochrane and family and David and Susan Cochrane and family.
We would like to thank the staff at LaRosa, Chartwell and Nanaimo hospital for the excellent care Joan received in her later years.
A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
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