Obituary of Mary F Pickering

September 12, 2025

Mary F Pickering, 92 of New York City, NY , passed away peacefully on September 12th at New York - Presbyterian /Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Born on December 9^th, 1932, in the Village of Carrowliambeg, Killasser parish, Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland. She was the beloved child of Michael and Mary Frances O Grady. 

Marie was known for her great sense of humor and her infectious laugh, unwavering kindness and loyalty, and dedication to her family. She was smart as a whip and was always reading a book or magazine. The hardest working woman like most immigrants of her generation, she was sponsored by her Uncle Martin in 1955 and came to America. She held various positions before becoming the nurse to the Gardner family. Very fond of Mrs. Gardner, she looked after four beautiful boys for eight years as if they were her own, her favorite, the eldest Ralphie. Many years later they reconnected which brought her great joy.

 She met our father, Tom at a German dance on the Upper east side. In May of 1962 they married; After leaving the Bronx in 1970 our parents moved us to the northernmost stretch of the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County, Matawan where they built a life sharing 39 years of love, family and partnership before my father succumbed to glio-blastoma in 2001.  She volunteered with the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and taught CCD.

Marie instilled in her children a love of reading, prayer, adventure and traveling the world. She made sure we became strong, independent thinkers, able to carry our own suitcase. She was the favorite Mom on class trips, and many enjoyed her Irish soda bread at school. In the neighborhood you would find her gardening outside, mowing the lawn, planting trees and flowers and even painting the house with my brother Rob who she loved spending time with outdoors. My Mother always made us her #1 priority. Visiting museums and taking long walks with our brother Tom in the city they shared their love of books, history, and art.  For me there was no finer mother. She was my teacher, my confidante, my closet friend. She was the strongest, fiercest woman I knew and my hero.

In 1995 my parents retired to Vero Beach, Florida but my mother could not be still for long. She built a fulfilling career as a lingerie Fitter at Dillards where she was often the #1 seller in the store, had a celebrity clientele, and often travelled to other stores throughout West Pam Beach to train others. She retired at the age of 78.

Marie found friendship and joy at the gym. She was often leading the ladies in an Aerobics class before walking 2 miles on the treadmill 5 days a week. She enjoyed yoga for many years, gardening, and whatever Hobbie my father took part in whether it was fishing, hunting, skeet shooting, our mom was always by his side. Marie was a devoted member of St Helens Church, and St John of the Cross in Vero Beach attending mass and weekly rosary sessions.  

 Our Mom suffered and battled with Parkinson’s and COPD for 30 years. The last ten years were the toughest. She spent them with us in the city she loved Manhattan. She defied the odds of this debilitating disease repeatedly and amazed her team of Doctors at NYU. She was the oldest patient they studied and fought every day with grace, strength and resilience.

 We thank everyone who was a caretaker, especially Gerry who brought her great joy daily. They shared the same Irish sensibility, and she loved him for his great mind, many stories, generosity and great humor. As primary caretakers Tom and I may not have seen eye to eye but always came together doing the best we could with little guidance. Eric, her nurse, Diana her aid , Akshita, and Hanan her PT, and Bradley her OT were all exceptional and aided in her quality of life .   

Marie is survived by her beloved sister Eileen Laffey, her daughter Patricia Pickering, her partner Gerard Cahill, son Thomas J Pickering JR, son Robert Pickering, his wife Patricia Delos Reyes Pickering, grandson Quentin and granddaughter Murphy, Predeceased family members, Margaret Grady, John Grady, Phyliss Brogan, and Pat Heffernan. Nieces and nephews of the Laffey, Brogan, and Grady family.

A Funeral/Memorial/Celebration of Life service will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Lady Chapel on January 23^rd at 10a . In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Michael J Fox foundation for Parkinsons Research: https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate