Elisabeth L. (Behn) Pickett, 77, died Wednesday, July 4, 2012, surrounded by her loving family after a long illness. She is survived by her son, Andrew Pickett of Sutton; daughter, Gisela Pickett of Worcester; daughter, Stephanie DiPilato of Leicester; and son, Brendan Pickett and his wife Susan of Bethesda, MD; five grandchildren; a sister, Anke Behn of Wohltorf, Germany; a brother, Ernst Behn and his wife Lisa of Bergedorf, Germany; and many extended family and friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Edward Francis Pickett (1980), and brother Gerhardt and sister Wilma of Germany.
Elisabeth was born in Hamburg, Germany on Feb. 17, 1935 to Ernst and Anna (Kruse) Behn. She grew up in Neuengamme, Germany. Elisabeth graduated from Kinderphlegere-schule in Hamburg in the early 1950's where she studied to become a kindergarten teacher.
During the 1950's she worked as a governess for Prince Otto von Bismark and later worked for his daughter. She also worked in a kindergarten in Hamburg before flying to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she cared for the children of Norman and Catherine Dike. She later moved with the family to Switzerland where she met her husband, Edward, while he served in the U.S. Army.
In 1960, she came to the U.S. to get married, and during the 1960's helped care for the 12 children of Thomas and Grace O'Hearn of Worcester. Grace became a best friend. Elisabeth attended Concordia Lutheran Church in Worcester from 1960 to the 1990's where she met lifelong friends. She was a dedicated wife, mother, and homemaker. In the early 1980's she was employed at Spag's Supply, Inc., of Shrewsbury where she worked until the 1990's. She was affectionately known as the "glove lady" as the store's glove buyer.
Elisabeth faced three cancer diagnoses with great courage beginning in 1995. Although in recent years she was unable to do things for herself as she once did, she continued to enjoy the company of friends, talking to her grandchildren who called her "Oma," and reading newspapers, German magazines, and books. Elisabeth's family is very grateful to Doctors Katherine Edmiston and Daniel Massarrelli and the many medical staff who came alongside Elisabeth through the years with their skill and compassion.
Burial will be in Hope Cemetery on Saturday, July 7, at 10:30 am. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to UMass Memorial Hospice, PO Box 2795, Worcester, MA 01613-9938. Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street is directing arrangements. To leave Elisabeth's family a message of condolence in the online guestbook, please click link below.