Sister Carolyn Lambert, OSB, passed away peacefully on May 30, 2016 at the Dwelling Place Monastery in Martin, KY, surrounded by her monastic community. Sr. Carolyn was born on December 11, 1956 to Jeannette and William Lambert of Cumberland, Rhode Island. She worked at various jobs after high school before eventually training to be a medical assistant secretary, graduating at the top of her class. Upon graduation, she volunteered for six weeks with the Presentation of Mary Sisters in upper New York, and again in Kentucky with Christian Appalachian Project. The Kentucky experience was so good she returned as a permanent volunteer and stayed three years, working her last year full time in child care. She decided to go back to school for early childhood education training and after graduation, feeling call to religious life, she entered the Presentation of Mary Sisters. Discerning that community was not the place for her, she returned to Kentucky and worked in child care for Christian Appalachian Project. While visiting her friend, Sr. Kathleen, at the Dwelling Place Monastery, she once again felt the call to religious life and took a closer look at the community. She entered the monastery in 1986 and made her first profession in 1989.

Sr. Carolyn’s main ministry was child care, first as a teacher, director, and then as a trainer. She was well-loved by her co-workers as well as the children and parents. At home in her Benedictine community, she played the guitar to accompany the chanting of the morning and evening prayers, compiled programs for special prayer services, served on the formation team and loved working in flower beds and keeping bird feeders full so she could enjoy watching her feathered friends. Sr. Carolyn loved singing, and the song “Home on the Range” could often be heard coming from whatever part of the house she happened to be in at the time.

Sr. Carolyn loved nature and hiking mountain trails whenever the opportunity arose. Two of her accomplishments were hiking down into the Grand Canyon and along 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Having grown up in a large town, Sr. Carolyn had to learn to live in the country, asking questions like “What is a hoe?”, learning that “caterpillars” are machines and not worms, and that chickens, as well as dogs and cats, can be pets. “Peekay”, the hen, loved to sit on her head!

Sr. Carolyn will be remembered by all for her gift of hospitality and her presence to whomever needed her, and by her Benedictine community for her ability to ask the hard questions. Community life was an adventure for Sr. Carolyn. Learning to cook for the community was a challenge for her, and the community ate spaghetti every Monday for four years!

Her community name was “Pinocchio”, since whatever story she told had to be questioned as to its truth. (An unsuspecting postulant was told wonderful stories of Carolyn’s adventures in Africa as a missionary, only to learn later that Sr. Carolyn had not been out of the country!) She loved this mischief making!

Sr. Carolyn’s family was always very important to her, and going back home to Rhode Island was a special treat. She was preceded in death by her father, William Lambert, and her sister, Gail Notardonato. She is survived by her mother, Jeanette and three sisters, Doreen Howe, Susan (Paul) Brodeur, Edie (Mark) Brodeur, eight nieces and nephews, and her Benedictine community.