Lady Yvonne Sursock Cochrane, owner of the Sursock Palace in Ashrafieh, died at the age of 98.

Cochrane was hit while sitting in a palace hall in the Beirut explosion on August 4.

Cochrane was hit while sitting in a palace hall in the Beirut explosion on August 4.Yvonne Sursock Cochrane (Yvonne Sursock Cochrane) is the owner of the Sursock Palace in Ashrafieh at the age of 98.

Yvonne Sursock Cochrane (Yvonne Sursock Cochrane) is the owner of the Sursock Palace in Ashrafieh at the age of 98.

She lives on the first floor of a historic mansion, while her son Rodrigue  and his family live on the second floor.

At the moment of the explosion, she was sitting in a palace room as usual, injured and taken to the hospital. The palace is located on Sursock Street in the Ashrafieh area and has suffered huge material losses because, in addition to the lush gardens, both floors were severely damaged by the explosion in Beirut Port.

Cochrane, who is keen to preserve Beirut’s heritage buildings, established the APSAD Foundation in 1960 to encourage the preservation of heritage.

Every year on National Heritage Day, Yvonne Cochrane opens the doors of her palace to visitors to learn more about its ancient and artistic features.

Sursock Palace is one of Beirut’s oldest heritage buildings and is known as the “Lady Cochrane” Palace. It is home to rare historical artifacts dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

Yvonne Cochrane’s European ancestry originated from her Italian mother, Donna Maria, the daughter of Francesco Serra, 7th Duke of Cassano. 

As for the palace, it was built by Yvonne’s grandfather Moussa Sursock in 1860. 

Yvonne married Sir Desmond Cochrane, 3rd Baronet. She inherited the palace and lived in it until her death on August 31.