James D. Barrett Funeral Home and Cremation

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Patricia (Pat) Ann Labuda. Pat was born in Elmira, NY, lived in Rockville, MD for 50 years and died in Miami, FL at the age of 81.

Pat graduated from Buffalo State University in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in special education and taught children with special needs in Buffalo, NY for several years. In 1965 she met the love of her life, Bill Labuda. Pat and Bill were engaged after a brief three month courtship and married in 1966. Pat lovingly dedicated her life to serving others; as a special education teacher, wife, mother, and (as her family refers to her) as a “Social Justice Warrior”. Wherever there was a need, Pat stepped in to lend assistance. She juggled schedules, taught CCD and was actively involved as president of the PTA. Pat served as president of The Greater Shady Grove Civic Association for 20 years. She worked in soup kitchens, assisted refugee families, and frequently participated in protest marches in Washington, DC, advocating for human rights and world peace.

As her children grew up, she turned her efforts to helping the poor of Haiti. With no experience and no ability to speak the language, Pat saw a need and poured herself into providing aid where she could. Pat facilitated a twinning program between U.S. churches and parishes in Haiti, taught herself Creole, developed a large network of medical professionals, coordinated medical missions and funded schools in the Grand’Anse region of Haiti. In 2008 she co-founded the non-profit Health and Education for Haiti (HEH) to expand the number of medical missions each year. Over the 35 years of bringing medical teams to Haiti she provided medical care and access to education to tens of thousands of Haitians.

As her last child was heading off to college, Pat was called upon to help care for two infant twin boys, after their mother, a Haitian refugee, suffered a stroke during pregnancy. Her best friend, Louise Jackson, adopted the twins and Pat was heavily involved in raising them.

Pat is preceded in death by her father, Stephen Stetz, and her mother, Anna Stetz. She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, William (Bill) Labuda, their four daughters Maria Dominiak, Denise Gustafson, Susan Reiter, and Alicia Bilbao and their spouses Gregory Dominiak, Richard Gustafson, Russell Reiter and Rodrigo Bilbao, two sons William Labuda, Jr. and Joseph Labuda and their spouses Bonni Labuda and Gloria Godsell, and 16 grandchildren, Allison Wittum, Nicole Dominiak, Rebecca Stafford, Lauren (Renn) Dominiak, Alex Dominiak, Sophie Labuda, Lily Reiter, Charlotte Labuda, Samuel Reiter, Michael Labuda, Sarah (Lennie) Gustafson, Joshua Reiter, Patrick Gustafson, Anya Reiter, Amara Bilbao and Olivia Bilbao, and her “adopted” sons Henri Moise Morel and Jean-Bertrand Moise Morel.

She will also be missed by her loving sisters, Bonnie Stetz, Stephanie Van Dusen, Kathy Bohart, and loving brother Stephen Michael Stetz.

Pat lived an extraordinary life and served as an inspiration to all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her light and legacy will live on in the loving memory of her family and friends.

Family and friends are invited to attend calling hours on Saturday, November 2, 2024 from 10 am to 12pm at the James D. Barrett Funeral Home. Panykhda will begin at 12 pm followed by Divine Liturgy at 1 pm in St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church with Fr. Teodor Czabala Jr. as celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Nicholas Cemetery.