Carey MacFarland Lennox

Carey MacFarland Lennox, who served more than 25 years in management at Chicago’s premier furniture and interior design firms, died on May 4, 2021 at her Chicago home after a six-month battle with colon cancer. She was 59.

Born Oct. 25, 1961 to Hays MacFarland Jr. and Patricia Brooder Dempsey, Carey grew up in Chicago’s Gold Coast, attended The Latin School of Chicago, and graduated from Middlebury College in 1983 with degrees in sociology and Italian.

Carey’s fluency in Italian helped land her first job as assistant to the producer of the famous Three Tenors Concert in Rome. She then managed international engagements for opera singers at the Mario Dradi Music Agency’s New York office.

Returning to Chicago in 1996, Carey started a 20-year run with Holly Hunt Ltd., where she played key roles as the powerhouse design firm grew from $20 million to $95 million in annual sales. She followed with management posts at the interior design firms Atelier Gary Lee and Branca, Inc.

Carey enjoyed spending time with her family and friends in Chicago and Castle Park, Mich. She had a passion for photography, swimming, making jewelry, and – above all – Italy, where she traveled year after year to visit friends.

Carey is survived by her husband of 27 years, Scott Lennox, and son Scott MacFarland “Mac” Lennox, both of Chicago; her stepchildren Katharine "Kate" Cornell Lennox and Anne “Allie” Quimby Lennox, her step son-in-law Grant Manny, and her step grandchildren Charlotte “Charlie” Anne and Miles Victor. Also surviving: her mother and her twin sister, Margo MacFarland Zaneski, of Bethesda, Md., her brother-in-law Cyril Zaneski, and niece Alexandra Zaneski.

She was preceded in death by her father, stepfather Jack Dempsey, and great cousin Glenne Andrew, all of Chicago.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
https://donate.mercyhome.org. In accordance with COVID-19 restrictions, Memorial Services will be private.

Arrangements entrusted to Chicagoland Cremation Options of Schiller Park, Illinois.