Patricia Ann "Patty" Duke

Patricia Ann "Patty" Duke was a caring mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She left this world peacefully on April 4, 2021 at age 68 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born to Edward and Esther (Greski) Labacz, on August 2, 1952. A graduate of Seymour High School, Patty served as a majorette, which she was always so proud of. After graduating, she wore many hats over the years but went on to her greatest role, becoming a mother to Jennifer (Jason) French of Ansonia, John (Susan) Duke of Seymour, and Stephanie Duke of Beacon Falls, as well as being the proud grandmother to Natasha Duke, whom she cherished and adored. Patty loved spending time with her family and many friends, especially if it gave her the chance to feed them. Whether you were meeting her for the first time or were well known, you were never leaving her home hungry. Her famous pierogi will also be missed by many. She loved bingo (even though she was always "one number away" from the big win), bowling, casino trips with friends, girl's days, if there was an adventure to be had, she was game for it…especially if it meant finding her next favorite restaurant. She had a laugh that was contagious and a smile that could light up the darkest days. Patty Ann is survived by not only her children and granddaughter, but her siblings; Joseph (Sandra) Labacz of Vero Beach, FL, Elaine (Stephen) Lonergan of Seymour, Elizabeth (Peter) Rosendahl of Sebastian, FL, Edward (Susan) Labacz of Naugatuck, Janet (Tony) Porter of Wilmington, NC, and sister-in-law who was more like a sister, Diane (John) Dirzius of Wallingford, as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and dear, dear friends. She is predeceased by her parents, Esther and Edward Labacz, as well as her sister Alice Rogers. To know Patty was to love her. She never met a stranger, never had a mean word about anyone. She would literally give you the shirt off her back. She had a superpower that she didn't know about - the ability to make everyone she met feel like they were genuinely loved, thought about, cared for and they were special to her from the very start. She felt like home, no matter where you were. Seeing others happy was what brought her joy, and she sure knew how to make people happy. She never realized just how many people she inspired, touched, and helped over the years, as evidenced in the many amazing memories people have shared. A very big thank you to the entire staff at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale, who not only provided excellent care, but every single person made Patty feel like she was the most important patient of the day. She always had kind words about everyone she interacted with, and loved getting to know all about you. Thank you as well to our team at Masonicare for making the in home hospice transition and care at so much easier for all of us, especially our mother. Friends and relatives may attend a walk through visitation on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at the Miller-Ward Funeral Home, 260 Bank Street (Rt. 67, across from Klarides Village) from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm. Visitors will be asked to wear masks and adhere to social distancing requirements at all times. It is kindly asked that all visitors enter the funeral home through the rear door and exit through the front door after greeting the family to accommodate all guests. Burial at the family plot at St. Augustine Cemetery in Seymour followed by a celebration of Patty's life for family and friends will be held this summer. Completely true to form, Patty would like that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Shriner's Hospitals for Children, a charity near to her heart. She also encourages all who are able to do so, to donate blood and blood products, as she was so appreciative they were available to her throughout this journey. May she finally get that "one number". Previous Events A Walkthrough Visitation APR 10. 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (ET) Miller-Ward Funeral Home 260 Bank Street Seymour, CT 06483