Jean Lorraine Hoechst (maiden name Cullen) died of natural causes Friday at Waterman Village in Mt. Dora at the age of 95.

Mrs. Hoechst is survived by sons William C. Hoechst of Apopka, John D. Hoechst of Mt. Dora and daughter Jeanne D. Hoechst of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Also surviving are grandchildren Lara Hoechst, John Hoechst, Lisa Hoechst, Christopher Hoechst, Dennis Hoechst, Audrey Hoechst, Joshua Hoechst, Abigail Ronner and Amy Ronner. There are six great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Hoechst was born on August 13, 1922 in New Britain, Connecticut. She graduated from West Haven High School in 1940. She married Christian Alexander Hoechst, a Navy medic whom she met while he was stationed in New London, Connecticut, in 1942 during World War II. They married on two weeks' notice before he shipped out. The ceremony culminated a three-month whirlwind courtship that began at a first meeting at a skating rink on her soon-to-be fiancé's birthday and ended up as a 60-year marriage. Meanwhile, Mrs. Hoechst, a sharpshooter, continued her job as an executive secretary for one of the country's many wartime armaments manufacturers.

The children remember their mother as extremely intelligent, gifted with a strong sense of humor, and determinedly persistent through some very difficult times for the family.

Jean was a multi-talented artist involved in singing, ceramics, and award-winning painting in oils, pastels and watercolors.

Raised as a devout Catholic, Mrs. Hoechst later joined the Presbyterian Church and eventually became active in various choirs and as an elder.

Once, when asked by a granddaughter about her career, she responded that not only were her children her career, but the one career she wanted. Nevertheless, her reason for being in Florida today was a move down from Connecticut in 1958 to pursue her husband's dream of establishing a lunchwagon business at booming construction sites in the fast-growing state. Later, while her husband was incapacitated for five years following a workplace accident, she took jobs involving medical and state administrative work.

Viewing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Allen J. Hardin Funeral Home, 1800 North Donnelly St., Mt. Dora. The funeral service will follow at 11 in the funeral home chapel, with a graveside service immediately thereafter at Greenwood Cemetery in Eustis.

Condolences and remembrances may be shared with the family through this online guestbook.