Janet Ann Pickering

Janet was born on the 29th of September, 1944 to Arthur and Lydia McGrath of Milton Massachusetts. She lived out her youth and years of education in that town.

Janet was preceded in joining the Lord by her parents Arthur and Lydia, by her sister, Linda McGrath of Marshfield MA and by her son Robert Sullivan of Sandy Springs GA. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Leslie W. Pickering (Les), her son Shawn Sullivan and daughter-in-law Renee Sullivan. She is survived by her three grandsons Patrick Sullivan of Jupiter FL (wife Alex), Ryan Sullivan of South Bend IN (wife Tyler) and Liam Sullivan of Sandy Spring GA. She is also survived by her sister Susan Sage (husband Jimmy) of Hanover MA and by loving nieces and nephews.

Janet has always had an open and giving nature. It is only natural that this inclination should have led her into the field of nursing. She is an R.N. and a graduate of St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing in Brighton MA. Early in her career she worked in nursing homes. She lived in and worked in Braintree MA for a few years.

A couple of years after marrying Les, the love of her life, she, Les and the two boys,

Shawn and Robert, left Braintree and moved to Sandy Springs GA so that Les could work at Georgia Tech. Janet took a supervisory nursing job at Brook Run. In the few years she worked there she took a young resident named Elaine Booker under her wing. Ever since, this woman has been like a member of our family, joining us on all major holidays.

Later in her career, her personality and helpful nature led Janet into the sales of home health services. She was very successful and earned numerous awards in her field.

Janet has always been known for her unwavering love and support for her church, family and community. She and her husband belong to the Church of St. Jude in Sandy Springs GA. As choir members, she and her husband went on a trip to Rome to sing for the Pope. Janet has also served in several other ministries. She served as a Stephen’s minister in the first generation of Stephen’s ministry at St. Jude and in a successive generation of SM instructors was the only person to have previously served as an SM.

Her warm, affable and generous nature has always made Janet easy to meet, talk to and become friends with. She has been a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and all who have known and been close to her will greatly miss her.

A visitation for Janet will be held Thursday, October 31, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Sandy Springs Chapel, 136 Mt Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. A memorial mass will occur Friday, November 1, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Saint Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 7171 Glenridge Dr, Atlanta, GA 30328.