Laree Simmerman

Laree Ann Hertel Simmerman, 64, of Cornelius, North Carolina passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on October 30, 2024, after a brief illness. Laree will be remembered for her unwavering love of her family, her deep faith in Jesus, her lifetime of dear friendships and serving others. Laree was born in San Diego, California in 1960, to Bob and Janice Hertel, technically the third of five children, because as she always joked, she pushed her twin brother Roger out first. Laree often spoke of her wonderful childhood with her sister and three brothers, her cousins and their many neighborhood friends. Her childhood, and most of her adult years were spent in El Cajon California. 

Laree attended Granite Hills High School where her friend circle continued to grow as she served in leadership positions and played on the tennis team. She always had a heart and desire to serve others and a love of the healthcare field, so she began to work in nursing homes as a nursing assistant through her high school years. This ultimately led her to attend California Hospital Nursing School in Los Angeles, California where she earned her nursing diploma, another important set of friendships, and many stories about her work in the ER in downtown LA. Prior to moving to LA, Laree met Rod Simmerman, a football player for rival Santana High School, and a friend of her brothers. 

As family lore would have it, Rod initially asked her on a date, but while on the date, learned that Laree thought it was just a "friend hang out." They figured it out eventually, dating long-distance through her nursing school years, and getting married in 1982. They settled in El Cajon to raise their 3 children, Elyse, Andrew and Chris. Laree left her professional nursing career while the children were younger to become the family's Chief Medical Officer, alongside every other hat in the book that she wore to keep the family running while Rod grew his insurance business. Laree often claimed she was not a "cool mom" and didn't want to be, but her warmth and wit led her into that role, where you could often see her joking with all the parents and the kids whether it was volunteering at CYT shows, cheering at the Rancho San Diego baseball fields or for the Valhalla football team. The family attended Del Cerro Baptist Church and later Skyline Church, where Laree made her deep and cherished friendships with her fellow moms through Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), and her work volunteering with College Area Pregnancy Services (CAPS). When her kids were older in the mid-2000s, Laree made the decision to get a nurse refresher certificate and spent months studying and learning the changes to the industry. Laree started working at Sharp Grossmont Hospital in Pre-Anesthesia Evaluation Services (PAES) and that is where she found her vocational calling. Laree loved working as a nurse again, and, not shockingly, became very close friends with all of the women she worked with at PAES throughout her fifteen years there. Laree took pride in being an excellent nurse, not just at work, but often stepping in to help friends and family members when they had medical concerns or questions. 

Her family never really knew if she even wanted to retire and surely never thought she would ever leave San Diego…..but the pull of grandchildren is real. In 2021, Laree and Rod started their new life in North Carolina to be closer to their family, in particular their two grand-daughters. They may have come for their grand-kids, but Laree loved it in NC because of all of the friends she immediately made through their new church, LIFE Fellowship, their neighborhood in Bailey's Glen, and her best friend from San Diego, Jane, who had also moved to the area. Laree's years in NC were busy & active. Alongside her friendships, she developed a strong love of gardening, walking through the beautiful greenways, cruising on her family's boat in Lake Norman and serving in a leader role at her church's bible study. She also was able to treasure her role of Mimi, spending many days and weekends with her grand-daughters and volunteering in their classrooms. 

Laree will be remembered for always helping people see the positive and lighter side of life, for bringing laughter alongside wisdom to all of her conversations and relationships. She was taken from us too soon, but her 64 years of life were packed in with adventure and love. Laree often missed her father, Bob Hertel, her beloved mother, Janice Carlson and her dear Aunt, Nancy Usrey; her family takes solace she is joining them in Heaven. She has many left behind who will miss her greatly. She and her husband Rod were married for 42 years, and shared a deep and unwavering commitment to one another. Her three children, Elyse Peterson, (Bryce), Andrew Simmerman (Carolina) and Chris Simmerman, will try every day to live life in her memory. The lights of her life were her two grand-daughters, Alex and Evie Peterson, her "sweet girls." Laree's siblings were great gifts to her and their closeness is an example for treasuring the family you were born into. Her much beloved siblings are: Becky Leidiger (Ernie), Roger Hertel (Lori), Larry Hertel (Karen), Mike Hertel (Louise). When marrying into the Simmerman family, she gained another loving family who considered Laree a daughter and sister: Donna Simmerman, Darin Simmerman, Myrna Marston (Craig Russell). Laree's two close cousins were her bonus sisters: Susan Leachman & Cindy Fuller. She was affectionally Aunt Laree to many nieces and nephews in addition to even more grand-nieces and nephews. 

We will be celebrating Laree's life at LIFE Fellowship on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 10:00am. A San Diego memorial service is being planned for mid-December and details will be shared at a later date. The family would ask in lieu of flowers, please spend time over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine sharing a joke and memory in honor of Laree. There are two organizations close to Laree’s heart where donations will be accepted in her memory: College Area Pregnancy Services (CAPS): friendsofcaps.org/give and KAT6 Foundation: donate.kat6a.org.