MARY ANNE APPELL LEMER
On Saturday April 30, 2022, Rocki Lemer, of Henderson, passed away in her sleep after a 13-year bout with cancer. Beloved 18-year wife of Gary S. Lemer, mother of Jaime and Robert (Heather) and cherished grandmother to Kenzie, Kelsey and Robert. Born November 23, 1948, in Brooklyn, NY to Louis and Marie De Forte Desiderio. Rocki was destined for a life of passion, of love and of family. She accomplished all of that and more. A graduate of Valley Stream North High School and then State University of New York (Farmingdale), Rocki passed her Series 7 exam the very first time
(not an easy feat!), enabling her to work in the finance industry. Rocki ultimately ended up at Smith Barney in Fort Lauderdale where, in 1983, she met the person who would become the love of her life, Gary. Rocki and Gary were a team, a stockbroking partnership, a force to be reckoned with, for 20+ years. And they never had any disagreements. They moved to Henderson, in 2002 and quickly created a new life for themselves. Who could forget being entertained at their home in Anthem Country Club and eating a homecooked meal prepared by Rocki? Meatballs, eggplant, and lasagne to name a few of her go-to dishes. Nobody could set a table for any occasion better than Rocki, whether it was a quiet sit-down dinner for two with Gary or a feast for 10. She collected cookbooks and recipes, was a voracious watcher of all things cooking and baking on tv and even took several baking classes. Of course, Rocki would be most happy when she was entertaining her children, grandchildren, and their new friends in the community at their home. And who could forget the wedding that they threw for themselves, to the surprise of all their friends and family, on May 1, 2004. Travel…rocki loved to travel, and she was a great traveller. Whether it was as decadent as a weekend trip to NYC with
Jaime to see plays and eat at fabulous restaurants or as simple as hanging out on the California beaches for a week with granddaughters Kenzie and Kelsey. She and Gary loved Laguna Beach and walking oceanside together, hand in hand. She and Gary also made fantastic memories on the Oceania Cruise Lines and had a once in a lifetime excursion to Italy where they had a private tour of the Vatican, a highlight of her life. Rocki was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and yet throughout her journey, she never complained, she never gave up and she never quit. Even during the Covid lockdowns and endless periods of quarantining due to health challenges, you would always find Rocki smiling and excited to be sharing those times with her best friend, Gary. Some of Rocki’s favourite things were Motown music, playing Mah Jong, Canasta and Hand & Foot with her friends. Most importantly, Rocki will be remembered for her love of life, her gentle and kind ways, and the fact that she would always lend a helping hand to all her friends and family. A special thanks must be given to Comprehensive Cancer’s Dr. Karen Jacks and Katie, her APRN, whose pairs of helping hands allowed Rocki to stay with all of us many years longer. Gary referred to Rocki as the GOAT, the Greatest of All Time, and it is easy to see why. Services will be at 10am PST/1PM EST Thu. May 12 at Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave, Las Vegas. For those unable to attend in person, Gary, Jaime, Robert, Heather and their children invite you to watch this celebration of Rocki’s life via this link: www.dignitymemorial.com/ obituaries/ las-vegas-nv/ mary-anne-lemer-appell-10732785. A celebration of Rocki’s life will be announced at a later date.as Rocki was always a kid at heart, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (in honor of Mary Anne Appell Lemer: donor s@saintjude.org; www.stjude.org/ about-st-jude/faq/how-can-i-donateto-st-jude.html)