Phyllis Armstrong Pickering

Phyllis Doreen Pickering, a longtime resident of The Jefferson in Arlington, Virginia passed away peacefully on September 7th, 2023 at the age of 100. Mrs. Pickering was the daughter of the late Hubert Smith Armstrong and Maude Armstrong of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada.

Raised in Sherbrooke, Mrs. Pickering attended Trafalgar School for Girls in Montreal. Her mother, a gifted singer, surrounded Mrs. Pickering with music, no doubt molding her future as a talented musician. Mrs. Pickering started her musical journey as a child, quickly becoming a highly accomplished and recognized classical pianist. She lived and breathed music with Chopin and Debussy as her favorite composers. Her last recital was on her 90th birthday.

Mrs. Pickering, like her father, was also a gifted artist. She could be found feverishly sketching people in restaurants and waiting rooms, offering them her creations upon their departure.

Always the proper Canadian, Mrs. Pickering reflected elegance and dignity through her impeccable dress and gracious manners. Through the years, Mrs. Pickering sat on multiple boards to include Armstrong Distributors, Armstrong Realtors, Sherbrooke Hospital, The Kachoo Club, and The Jefferson. She was also an active volunteer, a wedding director and head deaconess at Central Union Church in Honolulu, a choir director and organist at Trinity United Church, and a volunteer receptionist at her daughter’s business in McLean, Virginia, Sports Therapy Services Inc. (STS) where she was known as “Mrs. P” and welcomed hundreds of clients by their first names, memorizing their stories and entertaining them with hers.

Mrs. Pickering met her late husband of 38 years, Kenneth Halpenny, at a dance for Canadian WW2 soldiers on leave. Mr. Halpenny and Mrs. Pickering started their journey with music being at the forefront of their relationship. They also won countless jitterbug contests dancing to Kay Kyser and Tommy Dorsey. Together they started a family, which included their daughters, Pamela Shestalo of Ottawa, Ontario, and Gillian Rowan (Robert) of McLean, Virginia and Honolulu, Hawaii. Mrs. Pickering and Mr. Halpenny moved to Honolulu in 1971 where she lived for 24 years. She then moved to London, Ontario for two years to be followed by her move to McLean to be with her daughter and grandchildren. Mrs. Pickering met her future husband, the late Langdon “Pick” Pickering 1990 while in Honolulu where she spent her winters.

In addition to her daughters, Mrs. Pickering is survived by her treasured son-in-law, Robert Rowan, of McLean, Virginia and Honolulu. She has 7 grandchildren to include Matthew Rowan (Claire), Daniel Merriam (Sarah), Christian Rowan (Heather), Carrie Merriam, Megan Rowan-Martin (Peter), Michael Merriam, and Heather Dupuis (Simon). She is also survived by her step-daughter, Rachel Bunner (Pickering) of Honolulu. She will be missed by her 15 great-grandchildren.

As Mrs. Pickering’s mobility declined, she relied on the loving staff at the Jefferson and her aid, our angel, Zeynia Hassan. We are also grateful for the love and support she was given by her aids, Seada Ebrahim, Meseret Wrufael, and her nurses, Alicia and Jane. She will be deeply missed by her family, many dedicated friends and caretakers.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 7th at 11 AM at St. John's Episcopal Church in McLean, VA.