Rosemary Cochran England

July 01, 2009 09:30 pm

— Surrounded by her loving family, Rosemary Cochran England died June 30, 2009 in Southwood Heath & Rehabilitation Center, Terre Haute, Ind. She was born Aug. 5, 1940 in Liberty Hill, Texas to Charles Hubert and Thelma Williams Cochran. She attended public schools in Austin, Texas, where she graduated McCallum High School in 1958. She earned a bachelor of science in home economics with a major in interior design from the University of Texas at Austin in 1963. While there, she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, serving as president in the spring and fall semesters of 1961. On Jan. 25, 1963, she married Gene England in St. George’s Episcopal Church, Austin, Texas.
She is survived by her husband; her son, Meric and his wife Kerri; her son, Scott and his wife Linda, and their children, Austin, Blake, and Lauren, all of Terre Haute. Also surviving are her sister, LeElla Cochran of Austin, and her father-in-law, Marvin England of Luling, Texas.
A devoted member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church since 1969, she sang in the church choir for more than 35 years, served on the Vestry of St. Stephen’s and was a member of the Altar Guild. Over the years, she expressed her faith through her creation of numerous liturgical pieces in use throughout the church.
She was also a member of the Diocesan Altar Guild, serving as director in 1996, and the Music & Worship Commission of the Diocese of Indianapolis. She was a co-chair of the Sacristans for the General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the United States held in Indianapolis in 1994.
She was an active community volunteer, having been a tutor in GROW (an adult literacy program sponsored by St. Stephen’s), a service which she continued through the LifeLong Learning Center at the Vigo County Public Library. She had a life membership in the Swope Alliance of the Swope Art Museum, where she also served as docent. Through the outreach programs of St. Stephen’s, she was a frequent volunteer for The Salvation Army.
She designed and executed works in embroidery, needlepoint and quilting for more than 45 years. Her works have been included in American Quilter (Winter 2000), and in Picture Piecing: Creating Dramatic Pictorial Quilts (2002). Her work was recognized with ribbons by the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show, by the ribbon for Best Hand Quilting by Quilt America in 2002, and by inclusion in the American Quilter’s Society 10th Annual Quilt Show in Paducah, Ky., in 1994, the Swope Art Museum’s Wabash Valley 56th Annual Juried Exhibition in 2000, the Autumn Celebration Quilt Show at the White River Gardens in Indianapolis in 2001, and the Houston International Quilt Festival in 2002. One of her most dramatic creations is September Souls, a memorial to 9/11 which was featured in an article in the Terre Haute Tribune-Star on Sept. 11, 2008.
At her request, cremation will be arranged by Callahan/DeBaun Funeral Home in Terre Haute. Services will be officiated by the Rev. Joseph H. Chillington and the Rev. Deborah J. Veach at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, July 11 at 11 a.m. Her ashes will be scattered in the garden at St. Stephen’s immediately after the service. Her family will meet with friends before the service at 10 a.m. in the Cloister Room of St. Stephen’s. Immediately following the services, members of St. Stephen’s will provide a reception for family and friends. A selection of Rosemary’s creative work will be displayed in the Great Hall.
In lieu of flowers, at her request, donations may be made to the Historic Building Fund of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 215 N. 7th St., Terre Haute, IN 47807 or to the Memorial Fund of the Sheldon Swope Art Museum, 25 S. 7th St. Terre Haute, IN 47807, or to an organization of one’s choice.

Photos