Janice (Jan) Joan Cochran, former St. Maries resident, passed away surrounded by friends in Puyallup, WA, on September 5, 2022, after an extended and courageous battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsey.
Jan was born in Deer Lodge, MT, on March 27, 1944, to William G. and Tere (Feranato) Cochran. In 1947 her family moved to St. Maries where her father worked as land manager for the Milwaukee Land Company.
Jan began her lifelong love of learning at the age of 5 when she entered kindergarten at the St. Mary’s Academy. It was there she was introduced to music by the Benedictine Nuns. Using this and the musical talent and encouragement from her dad, music would become her career. She attended St. Maries High School and graduated with the class of 1962. While at SMHS, Jan was involved in many activities including music, drama, and student government. Many friendships she made there lasted throughout her life. During this time she spent winters skiing at North South Ski Bowl and summers riding horses. Jan was one of the founding members of the St. Maries Saddle Club. An accomplished pianist, she accompanied many individuals and groups at church and community events.
In the Fall of 1962, Jan enrolled at the University of Idaho in the School of Music and earned her BA in Music Education in 1966 (as she always said, “in spite of my nemesis the violin”). Jan was a proud member of the Delta Gamma Sorority and lived by the sorority’s motto of “Do Good” and to honor their symbol of “Hope”, the Anchor. She was captain of their synchronized swimming team, the Anchor Splash. While at U of I, she earned her WSI certification and returned to St. Maries in the summers to lifeguard at Rocky Point and manage the city pool. In the winters, she was on the ski patrol at North South Ski Bowl.
Upon graduation from the U of I, Jan enrolled in Language and Arts studies at Gonzaga University in Florence, Italy, earning her Masters Degree. She then returned to St. Maries and taught Music at Heyburn Elementary for a year, then taught in the Hailey-Bellevue School District. In 1972 Jan accepted a job with the Department of Defense to teach music at US Air Force bases in Sembach, Germany, and Vicneza, Italy, having all the privileges of a captain. After eight years in Europe and a brief marriage, she moved to Tacoma, WA. There she taught music at Orting Elementary until her retirement in 2010. As a lifelong learner, she continued to take classes and earned her Doctorate in Early Childhood Education and Development.
After retirement, Jan’s love of animals led her volunteer at the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, where she was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award for her knowledge and dedication to the animals and visitors. The sharks and seals were among her favorite residents at the zoo.
Jan will be remembered as a loving and caring daughter, sister, aunt, friend and teacher. She enjoyed life, always did the right thing, and took time to laugh with friends and will be missed by all who knew her.
Jan was preceded in death by her parents, William and Tere. She is survived by her brother and wife Stephen and Mary Cochran of Wasilla, AK, her loving niece, Erin Cochran and her daughter, Mikaela Cochran Polotto and Mike Polotto, all of Boise, her nephew and wife Jason and Melissa Cochran and sons Blake, Wade, Remington, Brennan, and Kasey of Eastvale, CA, and numerous cousins. She is also survived by her dear friends Martha, Janet, Scott, Sandy, Margie, Barbara, Pam, Nancy, Tom, and Peggy, and her beloved cats Doc and Fuzzkins.
A celebration of life mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 23 at the St. Mary Immaculate Church 921 W Jefferson Avenue in St. Maries. A luncheon will follow at the Parish Hall. All friends and family are welcome to attend and share their favorite memories of Jan. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma or to a local Humane Society in memory of Jan’s love for animals.
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