Carol Lee Cochrane
Carol Lee Cochrane was born in Toronto on March 17, 1937 and passed away in North Bay on December 17, 2024 with her daughter and son-in-law by her side.
Carol’s favourite place in the world was Lake Temagami, which is located an hour north of North Bay. She spent most summers of her life on the Lake – first at the original Camp Temagami (founded in 1903 by her grandfather, A. L. Cochrane) and later at her own property (Island 817 in Cross Bay). As Carol’s grandfather also founded the Royal Life Saving Society Canada / RLSSC (now the Lifesaving Society) in the early 1900s, swimming and lifesaving skills were a big part of her life. Carol would go on to earn Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, Award of Merit, and Distinction awards from the RLSSC.
While caring for her two, young children in North Bay in the 1970s, Carol was also a part-time swimming instructor with the YMCA and a yoga instructor with the Department of Parks and Recreation. She spent hundreds of hours volunteering for the Temagami Lakes Association and several environmental organizations. She retired in 1994 after a decade of work in the “Bridges to Community Living” program at the Canadian Mental Health Association North Bay and District, where she provided support to clients with mental health and addiction issues. Carol was also an avid cross-country skier, swimmer, canoeist, reader, and writer.
Sadly, Carol had dementia for several years, and since 2016 lived on Pier One at Water’s Edge Care Community in North Bay. The nurses, personal support workers, and other frontline support staff at this facility are truly wonderful people and provided Carol with kind, compassionate, and dignified care for eight years. As Water’s Edge is situated on Lake Nipissing, Carol would sometimes think she was at her treasured Lake Temagami cottage.
Carol is survived by her daughter, Linda Bangay (Marty Martelle), husband, Jim Hasler, best friend, Ivy Laronde-Goodwin, and friends and cousins in Canada and the U.K.
Carol was predeceased by her grandparents, Arthur and Annie Cochrane, mother, Margaret Cochrane (nee Baker), father, Gilbert Cochrane, step-mother, Louise Cochrane (nee Smith), aunts, ex-husband, and son.
Carol was passionate about her many cats and dogs – so, in lieu of flowers, donations made in her memory to the North Bay and District Humane Society (www.northbayhumanesociety.ca) or All Heart Pet Rescue (www.allheartpetrescue.com) would be very much appreciated. Online condolences can be made at www.hillsidefuneral.ca
Hillside Funeral Services Ltd.
