They were born in the same place, went to high school together, attended business school together and started their first jobs together.
Judy Cochran and Joanne Sweeney have shared a lot of experiences over the course of their lives including retiring from the Oxford school district last week.
‘I’ve worked long enough,? said Cochran, who worked at the high school for 13 years as a secretary in the front office. ‘It’s time to do something else besides work.?
Cochran worked at the high school for eight years during the 1970s, but left to pursue secretarial positions at different hospitals. She returned to the district five years ago.
Sweeney retired after 13 years as a secretary who worked for the athletic department, special education, the middle school and most recently, the food service department based in the high school.
Prior to Oxford Schools, she spent 14 years as a secretary at St. Joseph’s School in Lake Orion.
‘I’ve worked 29 years. I’d like to spend more time with my husband (David) and family,? Sweeney said.
It’s amazing, bordering on eerie, how much these two ladies have in common.
Both were born at 95 Dennison St., which years ago functioned as a local maternity home.
Both have been married 43 years, each raising two daughters and one son. (However, Cochran is ahead in the grandchildren department with eight as opposed to Sweeney’s seven.)
Both were cheerleaders at Oxford High School. Sweeney graduated in 1958 and Cochran in 1959.
After graduation, the ladies attended the Pontiac Business Institute together and started their very first jobs together at the same place, the Pontiac-based Household Finance Corporation.
‘Now we’re ending our jobs together at the same place,? Cochran said. ‘We never realized how much we had in common.?
When asked to recount one of their most memorable moments while working for the school district, Cochran referred to a comment uttered by OHS Principal Mike Schweig a few years ago.
‘He came out of his office and said, ‘Judy, you’re worth your weight in gold ? and that’s a lot.??
‘He meant a lot of money, but I took it as a lot of weight,? Cochran said laughing. ‘That’s been our favorite joke around the office ever since.?
Sweeney recalled that on her very first day working for Oxford Schools, she had to drive a child, who was believed to have broken his arm, to the local clinic.
‘I couldn’t believe this was happening on my very first day,? she said.
Cochran plans to spend her retirement with her husband Jim, vacationing at their ‘little place on Houghton Lake? and doing some traveling.
‘I just want to have fun,? she said.
Cochran also plans to spend more time caring for her 90-year-old mother, who lives alone.