Kathryn A Lambert

Kathryn A. Lambert, was born April 18, 1966, the second of three children born to Eugene I. Lambert and Justine A. Lambert, passed away September 22, 2024 at the age 58 in Peoria, Illinois. She grew up with the nickname Katie and was given her middle name, Augusta, after Eugene’s aunt. That aunt fixed up Katie’s parents with a first date to see the original cast of West Side Story on Broadway. It turned out a love of musical theater and the arts would transfer to their daughter. She studied dance, piano, singing and drama as a child. She attended high school at the Interlochen Arts Academy and later completed a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree at Emerson College in three years. Her father offered to pay for one year of grad school since she finished college a year early, but Kathryn, who had already started working in paid theater projects, took another direction.

In the early 1980s she met the love of her life Griff Garmers after competing for the same theater job running lights for a production about the Shawnee chief and warrior Tecumseh. Kathryn beat out her future husband for the position of lighting director, Griff swore that he would get even, he is still working on progress. The two were together ever since, almost forty years, with 35 years of marriage. Kate and Griff’s son, Seth Garmers, 26, resides near Peoria and has his mother’s talent for music.

Later, Kathryn worked for the local newspaper The Peoria Journal Star in the education program in Peoria. She swelled with pride when talking about her most cherished achievements: The National Spelling Bee, An almost 40 year relationship with her husband Griff, and of course her son Seth, who she was immensely proud of. Kathryn also loved cookbooks, but more so for the stories behind them.

One of her favorites, was her first edition Mary and Vincent Price "A Treasury of Great Recipes."

In addition to Griff and Seth, Kathryn is survived by her siblings Jocelyn and Ken; her nephew Abram and her Step Mother Janet Verner Platt-Lambert.

She also leaves behind her beloved communities, the Peoria Jewish Federation and Anshai Emeth Congregation, which was very much her Jewish home in Peoria for decades. She loved her Torah Study group and was often the first to participate in readings. She will be missed by all who loved her.

A gravesite service will be held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at 11:00 am at Springdale Cemetery. Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Donations in Kathryn’s memory should be made to Congregation Anshai Emeth or the Jewish Federation.

Words of comfort can be shared with the Lambert-Garmers family at www.davison-Fulton.com