- Date Of Birth: September 2, 1948
- Date Of Death: February 1, 2021
- State: New York
Born in Brooklyn, NY on September 2, 1948 Departed on February 1, 2021 and resided in Mahopac, NYVisitation
Patricia Ann LaBarca (née Driscoll) was born in Brooklyn, NY on September 2, 1948 and passed away peacefully on February 1, 2021 at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, NY after a brief battle with cancer.
Born to John and Betty Driscoll, Patricia (“Pat”) was the eldest of five siblings in a humble, close knit household. It was not always an easy life, but it was one built on the foundation of love and family, with many wonderful memories of growing up in the rich culture of a New York City borough.
In her late teens, Pat went to work in the fashion district of Manhattan as a bookkeeper, and later met and married Charles Ferrer and moved to Staten Island, NY. When she was 25, she gave birth to a daughter Vanessa. Later divorced, Patricia met the love of her life Joseph Parente in 1981, who she spent 37 years with until his passing in 2018.
Residing in Mahopac, NY, together Pat and Joseph were most known for indulging their shared passion for cooking. It was not enough to simply make something. “Making something” often evolved into day long projects with lots of passionate arguing in the kitchen, and the end result putting some restaurants to shame. When they weren’t working or cooking, they could be found in St. Martin or hanging out with Pat’s sister Barbara and brother in law Paul at their pool, sailing with them on the Hudson, doing home improvement projects, entertaining family and friends, or spending time with Joseph’s family at the many gatherings and occasions as the family grew over the years.
Patricia spent much of her career as a controller in the automotive industry where she was an integral part of operations. Patricia was a beautiful and vibrant soul with a zest for life and an awesome sense of humor. She was wise, sharp and strong, and a dedicated and hard worker throughout her career. Everybody loved Pat. She was a magnet for those who crossed her path and touched many people across her lifetime whether it was over years of friendship or for a brief point in time.
Pat was a constant in her family, taking serious the responsibility as the eldest daughter. Having a strong moral compass, she lived her life by “do what is right” and “treat others as you want to be treated”. In later years, Pat dedicated much time to her mother Betty, shopping with her every weekend and was by her side through her final days. Always close to her nieces and nephew, Pat’s relationship with her niece Kim and great niece Madison, became ever more important over the past ten years. Having lost her mom years earlier, for Kim, Aunt Patty was the next best thing, and for Pat, having the opportunity to be a part of Kim’s life in that way in the absence of her sister Barbara, meant the world to her.
One of Pat’s greatest joys in life was her relationship with her daughter Vanessa. As a young, single mother, Pat worked hard to balance motherhood with the demands of a career and a personal life. Always thick as thieves, as the years went on, she and Vanessa developed a beautiful friendship that was rooted in the love between a mother and daughter. Pat was often a welcome addition to Vanessa’s social life and shared several memorable vacations with she and her friends in Miami, St. Martin, Costa Rica, Newport, RI, and Cape Cod, MA. Vanessa was always proud to have her cool mom around, and while unconventional in some ways, Pat made sure to instill in her daughter her strong value system, manners, and the tools to help make her a strong, successful and good human. Pat spent the last month of her life living with Vanessa in White Plains where they were able to spend one on one quality time during her last days.
Aside from cooking, Pat loved music, dancing, watching football and hockey, traveling, fashion, the beach, art, and being creative. She had a keen appreciation for nature, including birds, plants, flowers and animals. She loved entertaining and spending time with family and friends. She was often the life of the party and up for an adventure. She will be remembered as a loving, caring and gracious beautiful soul with a warm, vibrant smile.
Pat is survived by her daughter Vanessa Ferrer, her nieces Kim Donovan Kaplan, Dennielle Protentis and Christina Sinclair, nephew Brian Donovan, great nieces Madison Kaplan, Ashley Butler and Peyton Johnson and great nephew Joshua Johnson, and brother in-law Paul Donovan. She also leaves behind her dear sister-in-law Jacqueline Pagnotta, nephews Joseph and Vincent Pagnotta, Brother in Law Frank Parente, nieces Francesca, Danielle and Bella Parente, niece Anabele Rafael, nephews Solomon and Jack Rafael, and father in law Jack Parente.
