Obituary of Karen McCarthy Lambert

Lambert, Karen McCarthy 67, passed away suddenly on June 22, 2021. Karen was born in Framingham, MA, on September 16, 1953. In 1968, the McCarthy family moved to Edina, MN. She attended Edina High School graduating in 1971. Following high school she moved to Milwaukee, WI, where she met Michael Lambert. They were married in Cork, Ireland, in 1976. Following an extended honeymoon in Ireland they made their home in Chicago, IL. In May 1978 they welcomed their daughter, Nicole Anne (Lambert) Lee. In 1987, Karen and Nicole returned to Edina, MN. Karen worked for many years at the fragrance department for Dayton's department store, in Southdale, MN, and continued in the same capacity for Macy's. She had many faithful customers and she strived to always provide excellent customer service. The most important thing Karen would want us to remember about her was her love for family; especially her daughter Nicole, son-in-law Jason, and grandchildren Ella and Oliver (Ollie). She took great joy in their accomplishments both in school and at the Minnesota State Fair, whether showing pigs or entering the cake decorating contest, among other endeavors. Karen was a proud grandmother. As a mother, Karen exemplified a strong work ethic for her daughter to follow. She encouraged Nicole to explore the world and conquer every challenge it presented. Karen enjoyed cooking and gardening. She especially enjoyed making time-honored family recipes and sharing the results with others. She helped mold her daughter into a self-assured woman. Karen is survived by her daughter Nicole, son-in-law Jason, and grandchildren Ella and Oliver Lee of Canon Falls, MN. She is survived by siblings Kevin McCarthy (Vicki), Brian McCarthy (Pam Price), Anne Grendahl (Tom) and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Vincent and M. Patricia McCarthy, and her dear friend Jon Martineau. A celebration of life will be held, Friday, July 2nd from 3-5 PM at Braemar Golf Course, 6364 John Harris Drive, Edina, MN 55439. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Multiple Myeloma Society.