Jackie's parents were Canadian. Her father was on a business assignment in Detroit, Michigan for 13 months and that’s where her older brother Frank, and she and her twin sister Josephine were born. The family returned to Toronto, Ontario Canada and her youngest brother J.A.(now deceased) was born. Jackie and her twin sister graduated from Wellesley Hospital School of Nursing in Toronto in 1950. She applied for and accepted a position at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the Surgical Unit and worked there for 5 years. Jackie met and married husband Quentin Pickering (deceased 2003) in Ann Arbor. He was attending the School of Natural Resources at the University of Michigan. After completing his PhD dissertation, he accepted a position with the Department of the Interior (later transferred to the EPA) as a aquatic biologist/fish toxicologist. They settled in Mariemont where they raised four children - Brian, Janice, Bruce, and Karen. One of Jackie's most significant accomplishments was her fifty years of volunteer service with the American Red Cross. In that capacity she taught taught Expectant Parent Classes, Home Care of the Sick and Injured, and was on call for the Disaster Team.As a disaster relief nurse, she offered compassionate care to families in dire circumstances. In addition, she conducted blood pressure screenings, CPR trainings, and home health care. Jackie was honored in 2007 for 50 years of volunteer service by the American Red Cross. Once the children were all in school, she worked 3 days a week as a contractor for the US Government, Department of Federal Employee Occupational Health (DFEOH) in the Health Unit downtown in the Federal Office Building. Mostly she provided day to day medical care to employees and provided physicals to people working with toxic materials. Jackie retired in December of 1997 after 30 years of service. She loved her career - employing her unique humor and extensive medical knowledge to help the workers. She was beloved by the people she served. Jackie had many lifelong friends in Mariemont. She was an active member of the bridge club, the sewing club, the garden club, the Lunch Bunch, and the Red Hat Society. Her neighbors on Homewood Road enjoyed joining her on her from porch to share stories, problems and jokes. She enjoyed bridge, sewing, knitting, and dining out with friends. She loved Dr Suess, and was prolific in making 'Cat in The Hat' hats - making a total of 97 over the years. She was also very skilled at knitting, making numerous coats for her husband, children, and grandchildren. She also knitted 18 Christmas stockings. She was known for her sense of humor. She often put her humor in prose, composing poems to commemorate notable events dating back to her Nurse's Training in 1947. There were stories of lost homework, Christmas at the Tree Farm, Odes to memorable teachers, and of many life events. One of her poems was even selected as a semi-finalist in a North American Open Poetry Contest. She also was a Girl Scout Leader for 7 years while Janice and Karen were Girl Scouts. Her 'claim to fame' -- at age 8, was when she was crowned District yoyo Champion in the city of Toronto. I include this item of information because a few years ago, her daughter Janice, who has a Masters degree from Columbia University, was chatting with friends about the educational degrees their mothers had earned. When it came time for Janice to talk about her mothers’ accomplishments, she just replied “My mother was a yoyo champion !!” Three of her four children and their families live out of town - New Paltz NY (Janice and Dan), Carmel IN (Bruce & Kathy), and Portland OR (Karen & Dylan). Having one son (Brian & Andrea) and his family living nearby, made her espicially happy. Grandchildren are: Brian & Andrea - Lynn, Connor Janice & Dan - Zoe, Aaron Bruce & Kathy - Ciara, Alyson & Elyse (twins like Grandma) Karen & Dylan - Aidan, Garreth She was recently quoted as saying "It’s been a great ride so far !!"