So far, so good. That is Veronica Pickering’s perspective on her life as she celebrates her 100th birthday.
Pickering, who was born Nov. 22, 1924, entered her second century with a birthday celebration Nov. 24. She received proclamations and letters of congratulation from officials ranging from Gov. Phil Murphy, state Sen. Shirley Turner, U.S. Rep. Andy Kim and Lawrence Township Mayor Patricia Hendricks Farmer.
But perhaps the highlight was the autographed football helmet from Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham, with the number “100” in gold lettering. She likes to watch football games and sports on television.
Pickering is well known in Lawrence Township for her volunteer work, including the Lawrence chapter of the League of Women Voters, the American Red Cross and the Eggerts Crossing Civic League.
She moved to the township in 1980 with her husband, the late John C. Pickering. He was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the Harvard Business School. He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and was a pilot during the Korean War.
Pickering helped to raise her husband’s two children – Jennifer and Michael – from a previous marriage. They were a big part of her life, she said of her stepchildren.
Pickering was born on the family farm in the Juliustown section of Springfield Township in Burlington County. After high school, she attended Rider College for two years. Using the skills she learned at Rider, she worked as a secretary for several businesses in Trenton until she retired in 1990.
She has been active in the Lawrence chapter of the League of Women Voters for many years, and served as its president. Many of the meetings were held in Pickering’s home.
“I like the League of Women Voters because of (its) being open to new ideas. We studied topics. We registered new voters. I will belong to the League of Women Voters until death do us part,” she said with a small laugh.
Pickering also has been an active participant at the Lawrence Senior Center. One of her favorite activities was playing bridge – or “bridge, bridge, bridge,” as she puts it.
Perhaps because she grew up on a farm and horses were part of farm life, Pickering has a special fondness for them. She watches horse races – from the Kentucky Derby to the Preakness Stakes – on television.
As a special treat for her 100th birthday, Pickering and her friends visited the Mercer Meadows Equestrian Center in Hopewell Township. She was unable to ride a horse, but she was able to pet them. One horse chose Pickering and followed her around as she walked on the other side of the fence.
Pickering likes to read and to travel the globe to see new sights. Her stepdaughter is a travel agent and arranged for tours to visit Europe, Australia and New Zealand. She also went on a safari in Africa.
She also likes antiques. She recalled that her mother would go to auctions and house sales at neighboring farms, coming back with furniture and items that had been in a family for years.
“Antiques dress up a room,” Pickering said.
Looking back on her century of life, Pickering said she could not offer any specific advice about how to achieve such longevity.
“I never gave it much thought,” she said of the milestone. “People died earlier. That’s the way life is. Take care of yourself, eat well and do everything in moderation.
“Having a positive attitude helps. I feel fortunate that I have good neighbors, good friends and a good network of people.”
