Anita Lembert

Anita Cole Lembert, born January 3, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, passed peacefully on January 25, 2026 in her home, beside her husband, her four daughters, and her Golden Retriever Ruby.

Edward Lembert, her husband of over 61 years, was the love of her life. They met as teenagers in 1960 and were married on August 25, 1964, at The Drake Hotel in Chicago. She loved and respected Eddie for his intelligence and sense of humor – she laughed at every joke no matter how many times she had heard it. She was his greatest cheerleader and most steadfast supporter. Loving him was her joy.

Anita adored her older brother, Harvey Cole, her only sibling. She was proud of the fact that she never had a serious disagreement with him.

She attended the University of Illinois and graduated from Northeastern Teacher College in 1966. After a brief period teaching elementary school in Chicago, her focus turned to what mattered most: creating a warm, loving home for her family. Joanne, Karen, and Nancy were born in Chicago. In 1972, the family moved to Georgia for two years, courtesy of the U.S. Army, where Eddie served as an Army Major. In 1974, while Anita was pregnant with Becky, she and Eddie made a bold decision to move their family to Fresno, California.

Being a mother was central to Anita’s life. She was deeply proud of her four daughters, all of whom have happy, fulfilling lives. Each raised wonderful children and created strong, loving families. All four daughters made their homes in Fresno, which meant a great deal to her.

The Central Valley quickly became home while Eddie developed his Orthopedic practice. In addition to being a homemaker, Anita volunteered with the Girl Scouts of America, served on the Medical Wives Board, captained the San Joaquin Country Club Women’s Golf Association, and led her beloved Beautiful and Intelligent Women’s Book Club.
A natural planner, Anita loved hosting events with Eddie, including volleyball parties, elaborate New Year’s Eve celebrations, and backyard weddings for all four of their daughters. She planned many vacations for family and friends, which took them all over the world.

Anita loved the outdoors and was obsessed with staying fit. She exercised every day, right up to the end. She felt the greatest physical accomplishment of her life was climbing to the top of Half Dome. She didn’t discover her true passion for golf until she was almost 50. She was quick to tell everybody about her three holes-in-one. Her golf bag was always recognizable by her special Golden Retriever club cover.

In 1991, Anita and Eddie found their second home in Carmel, where they would take long walks on the beach with their dogs. Both homes became settings for what mattered most - family time together. Traditions, especially around the holidays, were always cherished.

To her daughters, she was always “Mommy,” even well into adulthood. To her grandchildren, she was proudly and affectionately known as “Granny.” She taught each of them how to tie their shoes, and made time to be with them one-on-one. She enjoyed cooking with them, playing gin rummy, and teaching them to golf.

Anita had extraordinary friendships, many of them dating back to grammar school. Whether formed early or later in life, she stayed connected, showed up, and made people feel valued. Her friends adored her and found her strength inspiring.

As she got older, Anita often reflected on how full her life had been. Chicago always stayed a part of her. She was a lifelong Cubs fan, and she and Eddie were thrilled when they finally won the World Series. She loved returning to the city for its food, her friends and relatives, and places that shaped her. She lived by a simple rule: if you don’t have anything nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all. She always focused on the positive and was drawn to others who did the same. In recent years, she would often say that she had lived a wonderful life and felt there was nothing left on her bucket list.

She is survived by her husband, Eddie; her brother, Harvey Cole (Belle); her four daughters, Joanne Rosen (David), Karen Stanley (Rich Arons), Nancy Fuller (Tom), and Becky Dritz (Dan); her grandchildren Zachary (Nicole), Spencer, Tyler, Kaitlyn (Daniel), Gabrielle, Brianna, Gavin, Andrew (Gabrielle), Garrett, Emilia, and Lily; her great-granddaughter, Gemma; many extended family members who loved her dearly; and of course, her beloved dog Ruby.

In keeping with Anita’s wishes, there will not be a public service. Her memory will live on in the people she loved, the traditions she created, and the many lives she touched.