Marie Dorothy "Dottie" Cambre-Lambert died on Sunday, April 29, 2007, at her home in Baton Rouge at the age of 85. Visitation at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Wednesday, May 2, will begin with private family visitation from 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Public visitation for friends will be from 10:30 a.m. until a Rosary to be said at 12:30 p.m. The holy Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m., concelebrated by the Rev. Michael Collins and the Rev. Sam Maranto. Entombment in Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11817 Jefferson Highway. She is survived by six children: two daughters and sons-in-law, Judith Lambert-Matherne and Marvin Matherne of Dallas, and Dorothy Lambert-Bourgeois and Ray Bourgeois of Baton Rouge; four sons and two daughters-in-law, John Harold Lambert Jr. of Lafayette, Kenneth David Lambert of Orange Beach, Ala., Adrian Lynn and Madeleine Denny-Lambert of Baton Rouge, and Douglas Gerard and Rita Capelle-Lambert of New Orleans. She is also survived by sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen L. and Gillbert Ross of Harahan, and Edwina L. and Leonard Casey of Houston; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jesse James and Thelma Lambert of Metairie, and Roland and Patricia Lambert and Charles and Adyelle Lambert, all of Destrehan; and two sisters-in-law, Marietta Lambert of Metairie and Martha Lambert of St. Rose. Mrs. Lambert lived a family oriented life and was devoted to her children as well as her 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, John H. Lambert Sr.; father, George Terrance Cambre; mother, Marie Malena Guitrau Cambre; as well as her brother, Mark L. Cambre, and sister-in-law, Mary Leona L. Cambre. Pallbearers are her nine grandsons, Marvin L. Matherne Jr., John H. "Hal" Lambert III, Ray Howard Bourgeois Jr., John Bradley Bourgeois, Rhett Michael Bourgeois, Shannon Daniel Lambert, Joshua Paul Lambert, Jason Julian Lambert and Colin Jeremy Lambert. She was a member of the Sultana's and as a member of Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church for the past 28 years, she was a member of the Altar Society and Catholic Daughters and served as a Eucharistic minister. Dottie was born in French Settlement on Sept. 14, 1921, and grew up in Port Vincent and attended Southeastern Louisiana University. After World War II, Dottie and Harold settled in Baton Rouge, where she not only raised six children but also managed to teach at Our Lady of Mercy School. She loved to read, travel and write about her travel experiences. She wrote a children's short story several years ago which was published by Vantage Publishing Co. The book is titled "Jamal." It is based upon her extensive travel experiences while living with Harold in the Middle East for nearly 10 years. The story is set at the time of the birth of Jesus and is intended to show how Christians and Muslims respected each other's faith and lived in peace. She and her husband Harold were married in Trinidad, where they made a sentimental journey on Aug. 9, 1999, to celebrate their 58th wedding anniversary. During the trip, Dottie and Harold revisited the small church where they were married and the mountaintop monastery where they spent their honeymoon. They visited with the bishop of Trinidad-Tobago who gave them his special blessing on the occasion of such a wonderful Catholic marriage and such a memorable trip. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Most Blessed Sacrament Church and Hospice of Baton Rouge. Her family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Hospice of Baton Rouge, her many doctors and all who gave such loving care throughout the last years of her life, especially Yvonne Veals, Tiquincia Smart and Marie Mason. Arrangements by Resthaven Funeral Home.
Published in The Advocate from 5/1/2007 - 5/2/2007.