Isobel V. Cochran
1939 – 2023
Isobel V. Cochran, a mother, artist, and lover of all animals passed away in Hanover, NH on Tuesday, July 18th, 2023 at the age of 84.
The oldest child of Irene and James, Isobel was born May 18th, 1939 in Dublin, Ireland where she grew up with her younger brother Trevor. From a young age her love of art and animals was a driving force, inspiring her to save up and ride her bicycle miles out of the city to take horseback riding lessons.
Overcoming the initial parental resistance to having a pet, Babbit the rabbit was soon part of the household. He spent his days keeping Irene company in the kitchen or garden until the afternoon when he would wait to greet Isobel at the garden gate after school. Babbit inspired her artistic side as well, serving as the main character in an illustrated children’s book.
School also provided Isobel opportunity to develop her artist skills where she won many awards for her work. She went on to study at the Royal College of Art in Dublin while also working at Donegal Carpets as a designer. Her designs for their hand-tufted carpets were installed in embassies and other landmark buildings worldwide.
It was during those same early years that she met David and what became a lifetime of companionship, faith, adventures, family, and love. Married in Dublin, they lived there until David’s studies took them to the United States in 1965.
Initially settling in New England, Isobel’s passions would create friendships that would last for years to come. Working as a riding instructor at a local horse farm in Vermont, Isobel and David became life-long friends with the expatriate owners of the farm. For many years after moving away, Isobel and family would return to the farm during summer for time with friends and the area that reminded them of Ireland. Decades later when the beauty of New England (or the flatness of the midwest) pulled them back east, Isobel left behind a strong tapestry of friends and community of artists.
After relocating to Illinois in 1970 and the birth of her children in the following years, Isobel balanced her young family while continuing her artistic pursuits including pottery and calligraphy for the college where David worked. It was during this period that she honed her use of transparent watercolors, using a controlled wet into wet technique to create the warm, gentle atmosphere that she is best known for
Her favorite landscape works of Ireland, England, and New England were beloved by many for the memories of places that they had once lived or visited, and the $0.25 her children requested for every painting she sold that came from the frequent stops on vacation to take pictures along scenic back roads. She also enjoyed giving back, donating paintings to the hospital where her children were born for use as holiday cards for fundraising.
Isobel was a member of the New Hampshire Art Association, Vermont Watercolor Society and served on the Council of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen and President of the Board of the Deer Path Art League. Her many awards include Best of Show and People’s Choice Award at the Illinois Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition and numerous purchase awards, though her most treasured award was seeing her work displayed in people’s home and hearing the stories that drew them to her paintings.
While her artist pursuits continued, her love of animals was never forgotten and the household was never without at least one four-legged member. A staunch believer that dogs can smile, Isobel became particularly fond of golden retrievers. Once her children grew older and less trainable, she began to participate in dog shows, competing in Obedience and Agility trials and winning more ribbons and trophies than her kids ever had, though she was always willing to debate the idea that awards for participation had skewed the comparison. She did readily admit to refusing to return her son’s dog after dog-sitting while he was away. Isobel had signed them up for a dog show the following weekend and she wanted him to stay focused; they of course placed first.
Isobel took in the experiences that life gave her and used them to make other’s experiences better. The lifelong connections she created even while moving far away from family and friends is a testament to her ability to connect and empathize with others. Her sprightly energy and infectious laugh came from a deep well of faith and care for everyone and everything around her.
Predeceased by her husband David and brother Trevor, Isobel is survived by her daughter Ashleigh, son Steve, granddaughters Naomi and Mikayla, and niece Suzanne. A remembrance in Isobel’s honor will take place 2pm Saturday, Sept 30th in the front entrance courtyard at Kendal in Hanover, NH. In lieu of flowers, share your story about Isobel or her artwork at http://isobelcochran.com/memorial, or smile back at the next dog that smiles at you.
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