Ellen Anna Clancy Pickering passed away in the care of her children on Dec. 23. She was 99 years old.
Mrs. Pickering was born and baptized in Baltimore. She was the third of 13 children born to John A. and Ellen Joy Clancy. Her family returned to Knoxville when she was a child, and she has been a resident of Knoxville since. She was raised in Immaculate Conception Church and attended St. Mary School and Knoxville Catholic High School.
She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital, where she met and fell in love with Stanley H. Pickering. They were married in 1951 and celebrated 69 years together before his death in 2020. They had eight children who were the center of Mrs. Pickering’s life. Mrs. Pickering was a proud homemaker, devoting every moment to God, her husband’s accounting practice, her children, and her home. She shared her gift of faith with her children, who endeavor to follow her example still.
Mrs. Pickering is preceded in death by her husband, Stan; her sons, John Clancy Pickering and Frank Gambill Pickering; her sisters, Teresa Irwin, Mary Williams, Joy Carden, Annunciata Nutter, and Frances Noe; and her brothers, Joe, John, and Tom Clancy.
She is survived by sons Stanley II (Kathryn) and Jim (Stephanie); and daughters Ellen Hunter (Bob), Judy, Angel Brewer (Bill), and Regina Lovelace (William); daughter-in-law Leticia Pickering; grandchildren Natalie Berra (Tory), Patrick Pickering, Thomas Pickering, Stan Pickering III, Clancy Clementi (Craig), Rob Hunter, Caroline Hunter, Stan Pickering Hunter, Jim Hunter, Leticia Natour (Joey), Frank Pickering Jr. (Jenny), John Clancy Pickering, Will Brewer (Becca), William Edward Lovelace, Suzanna Pickering, and Walter Pickering. She also is survived by great-grandchildren Gigi, Sadie, and Baby Clementi (February 2024), Penelope and George Clancy Brewer, Frank III and Leah Ruth Pickering, Olivia and George Natour; and her brothers, Walter Clancy and Dan Clancy; and sister Pat Clancy Winter.
A funeral Mass for Mrs. Pickering was celebrated on Dec. 28 at Holy Ghost Church, with Bishop James V. Johnston Jr. serving as the celebrant and Father John Dowling and Father John O’Neill serving as the concelebrants. Father Bill McNeeley was in choir. Father O’Neill led a rosary for Mrs. Pickering on Dec. 27. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers were William Edward Lovelace, Walter Pickering, John Pickering, Thomas Pickering, Stan Hunter, and Jim Hunter.
Memorial gifts may be made to Tennessee Right to Life or the East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard.
“I am the Good Shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me. Just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father, and I will lay down my life for the sheep” John 10:14-18.
