Sandra L. Cochran (nee Thornton), age 79, of Manhattan passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at Sunny Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Home, Joliet with her loving family at her side. Survived by her daughter Michelle (Bruce) Melhorn, her "other" daughter Amy Wilson-Burgess, her siblings Roger (Marge) Thornton, Shirley Clement, and Larry (Rita) Thornton, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Preceded in death by her parents Clark and Edith (nee Brown) Thornton, her husband David R. Cochran (2017), her brother and sister-in-law Dennis and Cathy Thornton, her parents-in-law Frank and Bernadean Cochran, her brother-in-law Bill Cochran, and her sister-in-law Donna Cochran. Sandra was born and raised in Bremen, Indiana. She was a graduate of LaPaz High School in LaPaz, IN. Sandra also attended X-Ray Training in Fort Wayne, IN. Sandra then worked for Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet, Family Medical Clinic in Lemont and ultimately retired from Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. Sandra enjoyed sewing, cross stitching, sunrises and sunsets especially at the beach, cooking and baking. Sandra would volunteer to bake at potlucks however, she would not get to choose her own dish, her co-workers would assign her a dish to bring! True to her nature of doing what makes others happy, she would happily oblige. She was also known for her gifts of goodie trays at Christmas. Sandra was a giving soul, always putting other's needs before her own. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend-- a true angel on earth who will be missed by all who knew and loved her. Visitation for Sandra will take place on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 from 3:00pm – 8:00pm at Forsythe Gould Funeral Home. Funeral service will take place the following day, Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 10:15am also at the funeral home. An additional hour of visitation will precede Sandra's funeral service from 9:00am until 10:00am. Interment Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sandra's name to Silver Cross Foundation by visiting www.silvercross.org or to Friends of Sunny Hill by visiting www.friendsofsunnyhill.com would be most appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to Forsythe Gould Funeral Home, 507 S. State St., Manhattan, IL 60442, 815-478-3321, www.forsythegouldfh.com.