Blanche Bekker was born in Johannesburg  in 1923 to Elizabeth Gertrude and Petrus Jacobus  Bekker, It was a year of strife on the Gold Reef. She had only one sister, Wilma. Blanche married Robert Edward Cochrane and their early married years were spent in Johannesburg. When World War 2 ended the great recession began and there was no work so they migrated to Francistown in Botswana. Life was very hard there so her husband found work in the mines in Southern Rhodesia. The family grew to 9 children. Eventually they moved to Salisbury where life was easier – they bought a home and settled down. At 50 Blanche was widowed, she sold her house and moved to Gwelo where she worked as a matron in a boarding school.

On retirement she moved in with her son Just in Springs, and later she settled in with her eldest child Beth and her husband Casper, where she lived comfortably and happily for 30 years.  She was joined by her widowed sister Wilma and the 2 old girls with Beth were dubbed the The Golden Girls of Randburg.

This amazing woman always affirmed that she would live to the ripe old age of 100 years. It almost happened and at the age of 93 her grateful children have lost their loadstone and beloved confidante. Blanche bravely faced and overcame many of life’s obstacles. She had a great love for the Lord and an insatiable thirst for His Word.  She was an educated, compassionate woman of many skills with a great love for music, art, books, handiwork and crafts. This love she passed on to her children.

Blanche now rests in the loving arms of our Father God in well deserved and eternal peace.