Rebecca 'Beckie' Lemaire, a 'belle' of Rehoboth
Rebecca “Beckie” Julia Lemaire, 79, departed this life Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, at Renaissance Healthcare, Millsboro, due to complications from a stroke. Beckie, who was born to the late Frank and Esther Small, was a graduate of Rehoboth High School. In September, 1953, Beckie married her sweetheart Albert “Reds” Lemaire and they remained in Rehoboth Beach where they lived and raised their family.
Beckie, who loved to cook and to entertain, was lucky enough to be taught how to cook Chinese cuisine by the late Bob Ching, owner of the long-ago local restaurant of the same name. Her love of Christmas and making picture-perfect memories for her family was surpassed only by her love and affection for children. When Beckie’s youngest daughter adopted a child, Beckie flew to Guatemala and stayed for six weeks until they were able to bring her granddaughter home.
After Beckie’s retirement as a department manager for the A & P Company, she and her husband traveled extensively in their motor home. Highlights of her travel included three cross-country trips, whitewater rafting down the San Juan River, and riding mules down the Grand Canyon. Her children and grandchildren delight in that she was, in 1950, Rehoboth’s Halloween Queen and in stories that she was one of the “belles” of Rehoboth Beach.
Beckie is survived by her husband of 60 years, Albert R. Lemaire of Milton; a sister, Frances Myers Moore of Millsboro; a brother Frank B. Small of Lewes; daughters Melissa Jackewicz of Rehoboth Beach, Mandy Paradee of Millsboro and Mimi Morris (Chet) of Missoula, Mont.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Beckie’s Life will be held at a time to be announced this fall. Arrangements are being handled by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
Memorial contributions in Beckie’s memory may be made to her favorite charity, The Salvation Army, Attn: Use for Sussex County, P.O. Box 1304, Millsboro, DE 19966.
Please visit Beckie’s Life Memorial Webpage and sign her guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
