Jacqueline A. "Jackie" Picchione

Jacqueline Ann Picchione (Jackie), age 76 of East Greenwich, passed away on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.  Jackie was the beloved wife of Anthony S. Picchione (Tony), with whom she celebrated her 51 ^st wedding anniversary on June 8 of this year.  Words cannot capture the spirit of a woman so loved and so loving, but the following is a little about her life.

Born to the late John Maley and Josephine (Gaudette) Maley on December 30, 1942, Jackie grew up in Portland, Maine with her parents and her late brother, John.  Although she told many stories about her childhood, her fondest memories were of her time spent in the Andrews Sabres Drum and Bugle Corps.  She travelled the country and internationally to march in parades and other performances.  On a trip to France, she and a few of her corps members hopped in a cab and asked to be taken to the office of the mayor for a performance…or at least they thought that they were asking that when they requested to be driven to “la mer”.  As it turns out, “la mer” translates to the “sea” so when the driver took them to the beach, everyone was a little confused.

After graduating from Cathedral High School, Jackie trained as an x-ray technician at Mercy Hospital School of X-Ray Technology in Maine, later moving to Falmouth, Massachusetts to take a job as assistant chief x-ray technician at Falmouth Hospital.   During her time on the Cape she lived on Teaticket Path in the home of Katherine Robbins.  Mrs. Robbins became like a second mother to Jackie and the two remained close for the remainder of Mrs. Robbins’ life.  During this time, she also met her husband-to-be, Tony, at a dance on the Otis Air Force Base where Tony was stationed.

Jackie and Tony moved to the Potowomut section of Warwick, Rhode Island, to start a family, but life does not always follow the plans that we make.  After several years of unsuccessful attempts to have a child and many prayers to the patron saint of lost causes (St. Jude), Jackie gave birth to a boy (Anthony Jude) on December 28, 1976, two days before her 34 ^th birthday.  Less than two years later she gave birth to a girl (Dianna Judith).  Her love for them was immeasurable.

Jackie worked at Kent Hospital and South County Hospital, but her longest and most meaningful years of employment were spent at the Medical Treatment Center in North Kingstown. It was there that she developed a close group of friends, family really.  In retirement, one of Jackie’s greatest joys was hosting her annual Christmas Party with the Treatment Center Ladies.

Jackie had an uncanny ability to turn leisure time into work time.  Whenever she had a spare minute she could be found cooking a meal (usually for someone else) or turning an empty soda bottle into a craft project.  She is probably most known for her baking, Christmas cookies in particular.  Her baked goods were enjoyed by humans and squirrels alike.

Jackie is survived by her husband Tony, son AJ and daughter-in-law Lilly, daughter Dianna and son-in-law Joel, beloved grandchildren Noah and Nathan Brou and Avery and Liza Picchione (who will always cherish their memories of Mema).  She was preceded in death by her brother John, who always made her laugh.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday June 25 ^th from 6-8 pm in the Hill Funeral Home, 822 Main St., East Greenwich. Her funeral and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that a donation be made in Jackie’s name to Flower Angels USA ( https://flowerangelsusa.org/), a charity organization that repurposes flowers into bouquets and arrangements to be delivered to patients that wouldn’t otherwise have visitors at nursing homes, assisted living facilities, rehabs, hospice care and hospitals.