Barbara (Chamberlin) Lambert Helland

JENKINS TOWNSHIP-Barbara Chamberlin Lambert Helland has entered eternal rest after a long illness. Her soul is finally free of mortal confines and she can now join the two beloved husbands who preceded her in death. Born to Richard and Cora (Mitton) Chamberlin in New York in 1918, she grew up in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. She graduated from Hasbrouck Heights High School in 1936 and attended Syracuse University for two years. She married Ernest Richard "Dick" Lambert in 1944 and after the war they moved to Sag Harbor, Long Island, where they owned and operated the Pierson Restaurant. In 1952, they moved to Devon, Connecticut and finally to Monroe, Connecticut in 1956. Barbara became a parent volunteer in the Monroe Little League and Girl Scouts. She was an active member of the St Stephen's RC Church choir and Rosary Altar Society and gave years of service to the Monroe League of Women Voters and the Monroe Republican Club. Once her three children were grown, she worked as a library aide at Masuk High School. Under the care and guidance of Dick and Barbara Lambert, their children learned the importance of selfless community service without expecting anything in return. Barbara was devastated when Dick died in 1984, but eventually found solace and companionship with Ed Helland, who had likewise endured the devastating death of his wife, Hobby. They were married on Valentines' Day 1989 and Barbara joined Ed at the Monroe Congregational Church, where she became an enthusiastic member of its womens' groups. Ed died in 1998 and Barbara never recovered from her grief. After three years of deteriorating health, she left Connecticut and moved to Pennsylvania to be nearer to her daughter. She found spiritual comfort among the Wesley Village residents and staff and was very grateful to a loving God who opened the door to Wesley Village. Barbara was a spiritual person, and served God under many labels. She was born a Baptist, and raised in the Dutch Reformed Church in New Jersey. In Sag Harbor, she belonged to the Old Whaler's Presbyterian Church. She became a Catholic for Dick Lambert so that they could raise their children in a united household. She was a Congregationalist while married to Ed, and was happy being a Methodist at Wesley Village. She said that having a personal relationship with God was more important to her than her religious affiliation. She is survived by son Richard Lambert of Mission Viejo, California; son Wayne Lambert and his wife Diane of West Simsbury, Connecticut; daughter Rhonda Lambert and her husband Tom Barnard of Harding, Pennsylvania; stepson Chris Helland of Monroe, Connecticut; sister Eleanor LeMaster of Stuart, Florida, and three grandchildren: Matthew and Julia Lambert, and Tyler Barnard. Cremation is through Kniffen O'Malley Funeral Home, Inc.,Wilkes-Barre. The family will travel to Sag Harbor at a later date to take her ashes home to her mom and dad at Oakland Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be sent to Wesley Village; 209 Roberts Road, Pittston, PA, 18640.