Old Town, Maine and Londonderry, New Hampshire - Anita Olive (Poitras) Pickering, a loving matriarch and a beacon of resilience, was born on October 10, 1948, in Manchester, NH. She spent her vibrant life dedicated to her family and community, leaving an indelible mark on all those she met. Her charismatic spirit and thoughtful nature shone through in everything she did, from her work as a receptionist for Associated Grocers (AG) to the countless hours she spent crocheting blankets for newborns at various hospitals. Anita's life was a testament to the verse from the Gospel of John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Anita's roots were in New Hampshire, but her heart brought her to Old Town, Maine to be closer to her family. She was a woman of deep faith and unwavering loyalty, which was evident in her mission trips to New Mexico and Alaska with Londonderry Baptist Church. Her love for adventure extended to her hobbies as well. She was a seasoned traveler, she loved antiquing (particularly with her grandson Andrew) , and had a profound love for the beach. Anyone who knew Anita knew her passion for game nights, from cribbage to rummikub, her love for seafood, especially scallops, and her distinctive recipes like her special taco salad and macaroni salad. Above all, Anita valued her family and the memories she created with them. Her love for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren was immeasurable, as she constantly sought to create joyful experiences for them, whether it was camping trips (that resulted in the loss of a shoe) or simple get-togethers featuring her famous strawberry "stuff". Anita was a loving embodiment of the values she learned from her parents, integrating the morals from her father and the elegance from her mother into her daily life. Anita is survived by her husband of 50 years, Bruce Pickering; children, Stacie Smith and her husband Jeff, Gerri-Ana Harvey and her husband Greg Sr. and Bonnie Ducharme and her husband Alex; her grandchildren, Jacob, Brianna, Tony, JJ, Heidi, Hali, Jadon, Christapher, Andrew, Stephanie, Gregory Jr., Willis, Shannon, Felicia, Bruce, Zach, Leah and Seth; 21 great grandchildren; her brother, Robert Poitras and his wife Linda; her sister, Suzanne Motylewski and husband Tim; brother in law, Russell Pickering; nephews, Jim Poitras and his wife Megan; Mike Poitras and his wife Cindy, Charlie Pickering and his wife Sheila; and nieces Melissa Pickering and Eliza Woodson and her husband Raymond. And the many friends she made along the way. J oin us as we celebrate the life and legacy of Anita Pickering at the United Baptist Church, 86 Middle Street, Old Town, Maine, 04468, on Thursday, 23 May 2024 at 5:00pm EDT, and again at the Londonderry Baptist Church, 368 Mammoth Road, Londonderry, New Hampshire, 03053, on Sunday, 26 May 2024 at 2:00am EDT. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Step Pregnancy Resource, 336 Mt. Hope Ave #11, Bangor, ME 04401. Please note on your donation "In loving memory of Anita Pickering" or https://firststepbangor.com/donate/ If you wish, include any special story you have about her. Anita's life was a portrait of love, resilience, and charisma, a painting of a life well-lived and a woman truly loved. Please consider sharing your special memories of Anita and uploading your favorite photographs of her to the memorial page, so that we can all remember and celebrate her beautiful life.