Charlotte M. "Char" Lamont

On behalf of my Beloved wife, Char, the love of my life, her step-son Dylan, son Keith, daughter Lisa, sister Carol, brothers Richard and Tom, I am honored to welcome you to Char’s Celebration of Life Memorial Tribute.

I met Char on a Friday; January 30, 1981, to be exact. I was interviewing for a baby sitter for my not quite one-year-old son. A colleague at work recommended her to me. “Thank you, Dorothy!” I will never forget walking in the door and meeting the stunningly beautiful 27-year-old with hair down to her waist. The most photogenic person I had ever met. She had a son, 2, and a daughter, 6. Her apartment was very well kept. I hired her! She began taking care of Dylan the following Monday. By October, some 10 months later, our relationship had bloomed and we became a step-family sharing life 24/7. There has been a standing joke between Char and me. She actually charged me for an extra day when I had to work on a Saturday. It seemed prudent to me that we get married and avoid those extra fees…LOL! We were married the following year on November 10, 1982, at her sister’s home in Solvay, NY.

Char was born June 10, 1953, in North Tonawanda, NY in the wee hours of the morning at DeGraff Memorial Hospital. In June 1971, Char graduated from Sweet Home High School. She made a remarkable leap in her formal education at age 41, after staying home 12 years to raise our children. She attended, and excelled, at the University of South Carolina – Lancaster and was offered, and accepted, an internship in Lancaster during her studies. We moved a short distance across the state in 1996, where she continued her education at Florence-Darlington Tech, Florence, SC, graduating Magna Cum Laude earning her Associate’s Degree in Accounting. We were all so proud of her accomplishments! Char was inspired by her late father’s pursuit of education post retirement. He passed in May 1985, and received accolades posthumously from the college for his commitment and studies so late in life. His influence on Charlotte was remarkable and ever-lasting. My career kept our family relocating often, too often, but Char was never without a job. Char worked through her 64th birthday, and we began planning to relocate to Florida for the remainder of our retirement.

Char was an avid reader. I mean…she loved reading. If she was not tied down to anything specific, she was reading. That wonderful attribute played a crucial role in her academic success later in life. She absolutely loved being by the water here in Florida, and back home on the Niagara River in North Tonawanda. She had an immense love of music, almost all genres, but we spent many an evening listening to the Blues to the likes of BB King and Albert King…Eric Clapton….the list goes on. She developed a fondness toward country music, getting a taste of it while I performed early-on in our marriage. Char never was what I would call a “dog lover” (most definitely), but our Dalmatian, Maggie, won over her heart for 12 years. Our precious step-family came with many challenges and was our #1 mutual commitment. Anyone that knew Char recognized that she had a beautiful, gorgeous smile and a contagious laugh that engaged everyone within earshot. Char was a beautiful person, inside and out.

Charlotte Neidrauer Martha Lamont is survived by her husband, David Lamont; daughter Lisa, son Keith, step-son Dylan; grandchildren Parker, Allie, Trevor, Derek and Elayna; brothers Tom (wife Sharon) and Richard (girlfriend Angela) Neidrauer; sister Carol Long (husband Russell); sisters-in-law Nina Arendt (husband Keith) and Ellea Lamont; and many, many cousins, nephews and nieces. Our family has grown so much over the years. Our very last trip, Christmas 2021, was to meet our great granddaughter, Avilyn, daughter to Parker! Char’s beautiful smile was ever-present as she held that 1 year old beautiful child. Char was so proud to be a great grandmother! So very proud. It was a trip meant to be.

Char and I spent the last two years and two months of her life intimately connected 24/7 during her hospitalization at Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa) and Oak Hill Hospital (Brooksville). As caregiver, I experienced first-hand the love and care offered by these wonderful medical organizations, including American Cancer Treatment Center, Brooksville, FL. Char and I became unbelievably close during those last years. Closer than we ever could have imagined. We shared our hearts and our souls. Soulmates we were! I thank God for granting us “last and final words” to each other. Sounding almost scripted, on her second-to-last day, I told her “I Love You” and, very weak, but clearly, she told me “I Love You, too”.

I Love You, Char. Eternally, sweetheart.