Jeri Anne Dermanelian

Jeri Ann Dermanelian, 64, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, at her home in Las Vegas after a brief battle with cancer. The third of five children born to Shirley J. and David H.T. Dermanelian, Jeri grew up in Michigan and pursued a career in nursing, following in her mother’s footsteps. She became a Registered Nurse through Lake Superior State University and proudly drove her beloved 1970 baby blue Volkswagen Beetle, lovingly restored by her father.

In 1980, Jeri began her nursing career in Ely, Nevada, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing. She later moved to Las Vegas to join the emergency department at University Medical Center, where she became known as a fierce advocate for patients and a champion of best practices. She earned certification as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), serving both pediatric and adult patients with compassion and precision.

In 1998, Jeri married the love of her life, Arthur Kasarjian, on the lawn of her parent’s lakefront home on Lake Erie. She was never one to sit still-Jeri launched two successful small businesses focused on training and recertifying medical professionals, ranging from basic life support (BLS) and advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS).

Jeri was also a proud northern Michigan deer hunter and a vibrant storyteller. Her greatest professional passion lay in forensic sexual assault examination. She became a leading educator in the field, organizing and sponsoring an annual week-long symposium where she trained hundreds of healthcare providers. As an expert witness, she testified on the medical and psychological impacts of sexual assault, but above all, she provided care and support to thousands of victims, yes, thousands-producing critical evidence that helped bring justice to many. For years she was the only certified strangulation forensic nurse examiner who painstakingly assembled evidence packages for prosecutors use.

She was honored to work alongside law enforcement, judicial, and medical teams including Las Vegas Metro PD, Henderson PD, North Las Vegas PD, Las Vegas City Marshals, Nevada Dept. of Corrections, NCIS, US Army CID, Las Vegas Paiute Tribal Police, the FBI, and Child Protective Services.

Jeri was a beloved wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, colleague, hunter, entrepreneur, and a woman of strong Christian faith.

She was preceded in death by her mother Shirley, sister-in-law Margie, and niece Miranda. She is survived by her devoted husband Arthur, father David, and siblings Michael, Dawn Marie, Elizabeth, and David, along with many loving nieces and nephews.

Jeri’s celebration of Life will be held at 10am on June 4th, 2025, at Central Church in Henderson, NV.

For those unable to be present, we invite you to join us via Zoom.

Time: Jun 4, 2025 1000 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86086428837?pwd=0IoUjsofi5gQzrJY2lKt1fA3awLTb9.1

Meeting ID: 860 8642 8837

Passcode: 1234

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for donations to charities supporting women’s shelters, in memory of Jeri’s lifelong commitment to healing and justice.