NATICK: Jennie Christie Cochran, a former longtime Natick resident, fell asleep in our Lord on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at her Slidell, LA, home surrounded by loved ones, after a long illness. The beloved wife of Jerry Cochran for 61 years, and the loving mother of Stephanie Cochran Treadaway and her husband Randy of Mandeville, LA, Deb Cochran of Lafayette, LA, Jennifer Cochran Wyrick and her husband Jeff of Edmond, OK, and Christopher Cochran of Washington, D.C., she was also the sweet and caring grandmother of Lauren Elizabeth Treadaway of Brooklyn, NY, Kaitlin Victoria Treadaway of Tampa, FL, and Emerson Vinson Wyrick of Edmond, OK.
Jennie was born in 1933 in Natick, to immigrant Albanian parents, the late Vasil and Angie Christie. She was the cherished sister of Charles Christie, Margaret Beaver, and the late Antinetta Zicko. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Jacqueline Cochran Lavender, and many nieces and nephews. Jennie graduated from Natick High School in 1951 where she was a cheerleader. That same year she was crowned the first "Miss Natick". She was a legal secretary, working loyally for John Cassally and later, Arnold Zaltas.
Married in the Albanian Orthodox Church of Natick in 1956, Jennie followed her husband to Germany where he served in the Army Security Agency. They moved to Natick in 1958, where they resided until 1972. Following a job transfer to New Orleans, the Cochrans settled in Slidell, their home ever since. Jennie was a wonderful homemaker and mother. If she wasn't working or taking care of her family, she was busy with her many hobbies--crocheting, baking, Holly Hobby crafting, gardening and being an avid fan of her many favorite sports teams--Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins and New England Patriots. Jennie will be deeply missed by all those who knew and loved her.
Her funeral service will be held in the Annunciation Orthodox Church, 37 Washington Street, Natick, on Saturday, October 1st at 10:30AM. The Reverend Joseph Gallick will officiate. Interment will follow at Dell Park Cemetery. Visiting hours will be in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, Friday 5:00 to 8:00PM. A service was held earlier in the week for family and friends in Slidell.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Jennie's memory to Notre Dame Hospice, 1000 Howard Ave., 10th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70113.