de Castro-Pickering, Lilian Alice

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JJau.s.h.tetr.-infl.aw:
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(joru-infl.aw!>:
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{ji.!>te't!>·infl.aw:
Norma S. Gimenez, Rose M. Christian, Peggy B. Pickering
Bertha l. Reed Pickering
Winston C. Pickering
John L. Gimenez, Sr., Oliver Christian, Jr .
Enid M . de Castro, Daisy Bell
Hazel de Castro, Lucia de Castro, Bianca de Castro,
Elaine Georges, Patricia McCall
c/3tr.othe't!>:
c/3tr.oth.etr.-in-law:
Alonzo "Capt" de Castro, Rowan Conrad de Castro, Donald E. de Castro, Sr.
George Bell, Cecil Georges, Leonard Pickering, Ogilvie Shirley,
Raymond La Motta, Ashton McCall
Cheryl Sprauve, Eileen Donovan, Frances Walters, Eileen Lloyd,
Mary de Castro, Rose de Castro Kelley, Donna Sprauve Hendricks
(jpec.ial dfeph.ewt.:
Bert Chesterfield, Sr., Roy Pickering, Sr., Garry Sprauve, Jr., Rowan de Castro
Stella M . Saunders, Paul and Candice Gimenez, Terry and Maureen Gimenez,
John and Beatrice Gimenez, Jr., Dwayne and Patricia Nash, Richard Sasso, Sr.,
Cedric Swan, Jr. Rory and Dorian Swan, Sonya Swan, Roxanne Swan Rogers,
Michael Gaddy, Deborah Gaddy, Marc Antony Pickering, TJ and Jizelle
Owens, Myiesha Demery, Naeemah and Omar Kennedy
3-tr.eat-3-tr.andc.h.ilcitr.en:
Philip and Daniella Saunders, Mateo Felix, Ayla, Tristin and Evan Gimenez,
Jerome Saldana, Taylor and Bryce Nash,Aubrey and Elise Sasso Petersen,
Evonne, Evelyn, and Rashawn Sasso, Richard Sasso, Jr., Kaela and Jordan
Swan, Cedric Swan Ill, Keishlynn, Tori, Kelsey, Nicholas, ~(>.riel, Aniquah and
Kerri Lynn Swan, M atthew O'Neal, Davia, Davianne, Davariece, and
Davani que Rogers, Morgaine Pickering, Danitza Carolina Montoya-Lopez
Pickering, Joey, Karringt on and Kamryn Owens, Quincy Johnson
# tr.eat-3-tr.eat-#tr.ancic.h.ilcitr.en:
Ajani Ortiz, K'Cee Saunders, lza iah Gimenez, M alcolm Swan, N'Kaija, N'Breyah
and N'Cairah Petersen, Rae'Kayla Ri chardson, A'Eeliah Morris, Che'Miqua
Sasso and Richard Sasso Ill, Ti'Leah Neal, Sho'Nique Powell
8pec.ial cfam.ifu. a cf'C.ienrb:
Dante de Castro, Virgil Demery, Cerilia Pi ckering, Lydia Isola Rosas, Vernon
Pickering, Walter and Vadis Springette, Elise Vialet, Greta Nichols, Joyce
Richardson, Chris Akins, Margaret Abbott, Alphonso and Margaret Morrishaw,
Eunice Horsford, Amarillis Fonseca, Henry Quetel
Do re en Silvera
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Lilian Alice de Castro Pickering was born in the Year of our Lord 1918 in the
month of September in Road Town, Tortola at Peebles Hospital. She was the
fourth of thirteen children bore to Rufus Lambert de Castro of St. Thomas and
Tortola and his wife Frances Willard Harrigan de Castro of Anegada and
Tortola. Lilian became a supportive and prominent figure in the care of her
siblings. Throughout her young adulthood, her siblings came to depend on
her for support and guidance. Later, with the passing of her mother, her
siblings regarded her as the family matriarch, reaching out to her when they
had their children, for graduations, or when they needed advise .
She attended the St. George's Anglican School in Road Town along with her siblings. For fun, Lilian
enjoyed taking moon-light walks with her brothers and sisters and playing games like table tennis and
bat and ball. She was also fortunate enough to have the ocean as her backyard, where she often spent
time swimming, fish ing or boating. Having eight brothers and naturally being a very competitive
person, it was a given that she would be a tomboy; she was a very strong swimmer who often
competed and won local swimming meets.
Growing up, Lilian collected stamps from around the world, eventually
focusing on first day cover stamps, especially the beautiful ones produced
in the British Virgin Islands.
Her love of collecting continued into
adulthood, expanding to include coins and gold ingots produced by the
U.S. Franklin Mint. Lilian was also an avid reader and enjoyed listening to
music, especially jazz, with Louie Armstrong being her favorite artist.
Christmas was one of her favorite holidays. She especially like walking
early in the morning from house to house, singing carols, and sharing in
whatever her neighbors had to offer. She also helped with the family
preparation of salt beef, ham, guavaberry drink, and the traditional sweet
bread, in readiness for the various carolers and fungi-bands that came to
serenade at her family home . Being a staunch supporter of tradition, Lilian
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continued with the annual making of the sweet bread when her mother
stopped; passing the tradition on to her daughter Norma, who along with her husband John, and
several grandsons and nephews continues baking and sharing.
Learning early what it meant to be an entrepreneur: hard work, early days and long nights, Lilian
became the appointed family member that would get up early in the morning, answering the call from
the crews of the sailboats that came to town. With the family home being located near the wharf, the
crew members would call out to her when they pulled in and she would go to the family grocery store
or their dry goods store so the sailors could replenish their supplies before going back out to sea. It is
with this entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen that she supported both her daughters, Rose and
Norma, in the establishment of their businesses. Understanding that education and continuous
support is necessary for the successful endeavors of the small business, Lilian along with her daughters,
Rose and Norma, her granddaughter, Stella, and several other small business owners founded "Small
Business on the Move."
Lilian became passionately involved politically both as a young woman in Tortola, supporting her
brothers and other progressive thinkers in their bid to affect change in the B.V.I.'s, and later in St.
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Thomas, campaigning aggressively for Cyril E. King in his bid for
governor and actively participating in the development and growth
of Independent Citizens Movement {ICM) Party, which is still a
viable political party today. She served as a member of the Board of
Elections in St. Thomas for many years along with her good friend
and fellow political activist, Elise Vialet. She was also an active
member of the League of British Virgin Islanders, St. Thomas
Chapter.
Always helping and supporting, Lilian continued to open her home
to family, especially her nieces and nephews, several of whom lived
with her for several years as they continued their schooling. With
her home on St. Thomas being centrally located in town, it served as
the place where grandchildren, nieces, nephews, god children and
their friends could go after school, receiving a snack and a safe place
to wait for their families. For Christmas and birthdays, they could always count on receiving a card
with a check in it. She was a source of comfort and dependability.
Lilian's generosity extended beyond her family with her charitable giving
going not only to local needs both on Tortola and St. Thomas but to the
adopting of several children through various "Feed the Children"
organizations. She contributed regularly to cancer research and to the
education and research for a cure to Sickle Cell Disease. Lilian helped
many people in her lifetime and her help was given freely and quietly,
never seeking or needing a thank you. In 1991, she was recognized for
her selfless contributions as a role model who exemplified the true
meaning of motherhood tempered with love by the 191h Legislature of
the Virgin Islands.
Taking excellent care of her body, her mind and her soul, Lilian lived a pretty healthy life, she was able
to twice fight cancer into remission and survived a stroke living to enjoy 91 years of life. A faithful
member of All Saints Episcopal Cathedral Church and a firm believer in her God, she surrendered to his
wishes on April 14, 2010.
Lilian was married to Walter Evelyn Pickering and from their union
she became the proud mother of four children: Norma, Winston,
Rose Marie, and Peggy.
Her children blessed her with 16
grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren,
and 13 great-great grandchildren, who
were fortunate to know her. She will
be greatly missed, but mostly
remembered for the remarkable, kind,
generous, and nurturing person that
she was.
Your loving children,
Norma, Winston, Rose and Peggy
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