Catherine M. (Madden) Lampert

Catherine Madden Lampert, age 97, originally of Lewisville, Minnesota, and a longtime resident of St. Paul, died May 2, 2026, at her home at Carondelet Village. Catherine is preceded in death by her siblings Kathleen Madden, Mary Haycraft (Gordon), Margaret Madden, James Madden (Mel), and Elizabeth Giese (Alex). She is survived by her daughters Mary Schwartz (Christopher Shwartz, Perry Stanley) of St. Paul and Elizabeth Lampert (Eric Tjossem) of St. Paul; grandchildren Michael Lindeland, Ana Orrison, Sam Young, Elinor Young, Madden Tjossem, and Greta Tjossem; and three great-grandchildren.

On October 19, 1928, Catherine Madden took her place as the youngest of six children born to Frank and Margaret (Mullins) Madden. The family lived in a humble home where they were raised with gentleness and a deep Catholic faith. Catherine remembered a lively, happy home, close friendships, and time spent with her father at his job in the town’s grain elevator.

Catherine won the 4-H “Health Queen” contest in junior high, earning a week at the Minnesota State Fair on her own. The city and the fair were a lot for a small-town girl, and she was quite relieved to return home. Upon graduation from high school at age seventeen, she moved to Minneapolis to help support her hard of hearing sister, Elizabeth. Their mother was in poor health, and although Catherine had hoped to become a teacher, they had no financial resources to make that a reality. Thus, Catherine began her working life as a keypunch operator and typist and later worked in data processing for Control Data Corporation.

In her thirties, with a bit of savings, three friends, and a car that mostly worked, Catherine set out on an adventure. She spent a year traveling, skiing, and working across Montana, Colorado, San Francisco, and Portland. She worked one winter in a Colorado ski town, “camped” without tents in Glacier and San Francisco, and was employed in Portland, OR. The four women remained lifelong friends, cherishing stories from those trips and managing to reunite for additional travels years later.

Catherine loved telling stories about her family of origin. Her father was born in 1879, and his life gave her a window into history: his remembrance of the young men headed to the Spanish-American War, his own families immigration from Ontario to northern Minnesota, his hockey-playing years, meeting his Irish Catholic German-speaking wife while she sat in a shop window showcasing her skills on a typewriter, the family’s homesteading disaster in Montana, and the loss of Catherine’s sister Kathleen during the Spanish flu pandemic. Catherine recalled the tensions of living in a primarily German community at the start of World War II, she recounted living in Minneapolis as a young woman where she rode the omnipresent streetcars, and she remembered going out on the town with friends to dance at the social ballrooms in Minneapolis and Saint Paul.

In her mid-thirties, Catherine married Kenneth Lampert and had two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. She was delighted to be a mother and stayed home to raise her young children. Both girls attended grade school at Visitation, where Catherine formed a lasting friendship with the Sisters of the Visitation. She often lingered after drop-offs to visit with the nuns.

She was generous with her time and resources, particularly in support of social justice and the poor. In 1976, when Ken’s engineering job with Control Data moved the family to Caracas,

Venezuela, Catherine volunteered with a Catholic charity and worked with an orphanage in the barrios. She was a dedicated volunteer wherever she lived and was active in her church, her children’s school, and her community.

During the 1980s, after the family returned to the United States, Catherine took a part time job with Sun Country so that she could enjoy the travel benefits. She later worked for a tour agency and eventually moved to a role as a clerk at Ramsey Hospital in Saint Paul, where she enjoyed interacting with patients in the seniors’ clinic. Being able to assist even the most disgruntled patient became part of the mission she found in connecting with others. Catherine’s longing to obtain a degree led her to complete her associate degree at Inver Hills while simultaneously working at Ramsey and raising her teen daughters. She was about to embark on a bachelor's program when she was halted by a cancer diagnosis. Although doctors told her she was unlikely to survive, she defied expectations and lived for another forty-one years.

Single in her mid 60’s, Catherine lived in a cottage she loved, surrounded by neighbors of all ages, with a park just down the street. She was also a few years into a job at the St Paul Public library, a fitting place for someone who loved books. She kept a full schedule of reading, visiting, volunteering, and caring for her grandchildren, even when asked to do so at the last minute. She remained in her idyllic cottage through the 2020 pandemic and into the next year.

Catherine had a deep interest in people and loved listening to their stories. She was a warm conversationalist and an avid reader. Her passion for books led her to join two book clubs where she was able to enjoy and discuss a variety of works. Her favorite genre was travel writing, and the knowledge she gained enriched her conversations. If she met someone from another place, she often knew just enough about their home to engage them in a deeper conversation. It was a remarkable skill!

Family and friendships remained central throughout her life. She remained close with her sisters and brother, kept in regular contact with nieces and nephews, and maintained an active and wide-ranging social life. She loved music, particularly Irish music and jazz. Catherine took joy in holidays, especially the seasons of Advent and Easter. She showed up for her daughters and took genuine delight in her grandchildren’s lives and activities. Catherine almost always said yes to an invitation and brought energy with her when she did. She continued to volunteer by giving rides to those in need and joined a group from St Boniface church that flew a peace flag each weekend. When asked which war they were protesting, her response was, “All of them.”

Carondelet Independent Living became her home when she surrendered her driver’s license in her 90s. She eventually moved to memory care and her family is grateful for the attention she received in her final years. Catherine will be profoundly missed by her family and friends, though they know she was ready to be welcomed into heaven and the grace of God.

Private burial will take place on Thursday, May 7. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, May 8, at 10 a.m. at Assumption Catholic Church, 51 West 7th Street, St. Paul. Visitation will take place one hour prior to Mass. Luncheon to follow.

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