Jean Marie Pickering

Born March 20, 1942 to Martin P. Haley and Mary A. (McGarry) Haley of Shorewood, IL. Jean was raised in Shorewood, IL and attended St. Pat's Elementary School in Joliet, IL and attended high school at St. Francis Academy in Joliet, IL. She later attended Rock Valley College earning a degree in accounting. She married John M. Pickering on July 9, 1960 (divorced 1977) and had three daughters.

She was an avid member of 4-H and later became heavily involved in PTA, Brownies (Troop Leader) and Girl Scouts (Troop Leader). She enjoyed ceramics and china painting and was very good at both. She won the Peggy Award, the highest award possible in the 1970's for a ceramic piece she submitted.

She started her career at Frontier Ford (Warranty Claims) in Rockford, IL and continued in the auto-industry throughout her career working at Fran Kral Lincoln - Mercury (Warranty Claims) Rockford, IL, Bear Country Ford (Service Manager) in Freeport, IL, Rock River Ford (Warranty Claims) in Rockford, IL and Rock River Hyundai (Service Manager) in Rockford, IL.

She enjoyed camping with her grandchildren and family at Rock Cut State Park as well as camping with her grandchildren on the family farm. She also liked working in her yard, gardening and eventually spending time with her great-children. She was a devout Catholic and eager to help those in need.

Survivors include her children: Mary (John) Davis of Roscoe, IL, Susan (Brad) White of Belvidere, IL and Barbara Ratliff of Loves Park, IL. Grandchildren: Megan (Dustin) Wilson, Michael Eppenbaugh, Daniel (Heather) Davis and Christine (Zach) Arns. Great-grandchildren: Jackson Wilson, Cash Wilson, Archer Wilson, Kayleigh Davis and Duke Davis. Siblings: Michael (the late Mitzi) Haley, Susan (William Brandt) Haley and Joseph (Alice) Haley. Nieces and Nephews: Janice (Tony) Columbus, Julie (Matt) Dzarnowski, Martin Haley, Brian (Amanda) Haley, Patricia Haley and Daniel (Kristen) Haley and nine great nieces and nephews and one great-great niece as well as numerous cousins.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Mary (McGarry) Haley, niece, Christine Harem and nephew, Joseph Haley.

Visitation at Sunset Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 8800 North Alpine Road, Machesney Park, IL 61115, Tuesday, August 18, 2026 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Funeral Services will follow on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 11:00am at St. Bridget’s Church, 600 Clifford Avenue, Loves Park, IL 61111 where there will be a mass. Burial will be in Sunset Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens following the mass.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made as gifts in Jean’s memory to Rockford Rescue Mission, 715 West State Street, Rockford, IL 61102. We would like to thank the staff at Cherryvale Place and Heartland Hospice for their extraordinary care of our mother.