Helen Elizabeth Cochrane

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Helen Elizabeth Cochrane on December 21, 2020 at the age of 100. Helen left us peacefully in her sleep at Deer Lodge Centre with her oldest son by her side.

Born November 4, 1920 in Sperling, Manitoba Helen was the daughter of Conrad and Annie Mogk (Waddell).

Helen was predeceased by her loving husband Robert R. (Bob) Cochrane, brothers George and Ross Mogk, grandson Neal and first husband James Mawson, who was in the Royal Canadian Air Force and died in England during the Second World War.

Mom grew up in Sperling, Manitoba on the family farm before moving to Winnipeg during WWII where she worked assembling aircraft parts for the war effort. After the war, she remained in Winnipeg and it was there that she met Dad while she was working as a hairdresser next door to the grocery store where Dad worked as a butcher. After they were married on June 4, 1947 Mom and Dad managed and lived above a grocery store in St. James until 1950. After their first son was born, they relocated to Kings Park where they would raise their family and make many friendships. While living in Kings Park Mom worked at the University of Manitoba in the food services division. She spent many weekends at the family lake property at Wendigo and on the Lee River in the Lac du Bonnet area. In later years when her family was out on their own raising their own families, Mom and Dad enjoyed travelling and took trips to Portugal, Australia, and Arizona making many friends along the way. Family was very important to Mom and of course ‘Grandma’ was never without a batch of cookies and loved spending time with her grandchildren.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Ralph (Barbara), Ann (Stephen), Bruce (Jan), Scott (Marie) and Heather (Charles); grandchildren, Shannon (Garry), Keri (Eric), Janis (Kevin), Lisa (Corey), Lindsay (Brittany), Michael, Elizabeth, David, Nicholas, Braden, Tyler and Carter; as well as 11 great-grandchildren.

A private family service will take place at a later date.

The family would like to thank the caring staff of Tower 5 at the Deer Lodge Centre.

Flowers are respectively declined. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Deer Lodge Centre Foundation in Helen's memory, 204-272-8911.