Patricia Eileen Leahy

Patricia Eileen (Pat aka “Mona”) Leahy passed away peacefully on January 8, 2021 near her home of 32 years in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. She was born November 14, 1925, in Lowell, Indiana, the 4th of six children, to Lester and Ora Ebert. She spent most of her childhood growing up there on the family farm with her parents and five brothers and sisters. After moving to nearby Crown Point in her senior year, Pat graduated from Crown Point High School in 1941. She began her post-secondary education at Ball State University and finished up at Western Michigan University in 1947 where she received a degree in Occupational Therapy. AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PIONEER Following graduation, as noted in the first sentence of a 1948 Gary (Indiana) Post-Tribune feature article, “Employment of Miss Patricia Ebert…marked the launching of a new public school service for handicapped children.” Right out of college, it was clear that this talented woman was more than ready to make her mark on the world. Much of her pioneering work for the Lake County Chapter of the Indiana Society for Crippled Children focused on helping palsied children learn critical life skills in a classroom environment with other kids just like them, radical new thinking at the time. Before then, most of these handicapped children just stayed at home, limiting their ability to thrive over time. But even then, Pat’s infectious optimism and strong work ethic wouldn’t allow these kids to fail. A great example of this was reported later in the same article, quoting Pat as saying, “ ’Jeanne English, an 18-year-old student who has never been able tie her laces, will do so in a few weeks,’ prophesies Miss Ebert.” Those kids couldn’t have been in better hands. Amazingly, thanks in part to Pat’s early work as their first official hire, that organization is still going strong to this day, some 73 years later. Now known as Tradewinds Services of Merrillville, Indiana, their mission statement is a reflection of her passion and enduring character – serving people with special needs by empowering them to realize their full potential. FAMILY BECOMES HER NEW CAREER While WMU was where Pat finished her formal schooling in Occupational Therapy, it is also where she met her husband Dick, whom she married in Chicago in 1948. While continuing to excel as an occupational therapist, her budding career would eventually have to yield to the equally challenging job of raising a growing family. While Dick worked his way up the sales and management career ladder with the Ryerson Steel Co., Pat managed their large family of five as they moved around the country, from Chicago to Dallas to Los Angeles, before finally settling down in Spokane. While in Spokane, Pat somehow found the time to go back to school, earning a Teaching Degree at Gonzaga University, where Dick would later join their Board of Regents. Always believing in the importance of giving back to the community, they both were active in church and civic organizations wherever they lived – perfect examples of our virtuous “Greatest Generation.” After living in the Spokane area for 20 years, Pat and Dick, aka Mona and Sid, moved in 1988 to Mountlake Terrace to enjoy their retirement years while being closer to their beloved children and grandchildren. Like many of their peers, they also became snowbirds and maintained a second home for many years in Sarasota, Florida. They loved to travel, which came in handy since their family, friends and relatives literally spanned from coast to coast. After 55 years of marriage, Dick passed away on January 3, 2003 at 79 years of age. Pat’s years since then were mostly filled enjoying time with her children, their families, and close friends - time that will be sorely missed by us all. And yes, she kept travelling whenever she could. HER LEGACY “Mona and Sid”, as they were affectionately known by family and friends, were quite a team. It was impossible not to notice them in a crowded room. Which goes to show you - put an Irish Catholic city guy from Chicago together with a German Protestant country girl from Indiana, and you’d better hold onto your hats! Phenomena like this only appears once in a lifetime. But after Dick passed, many of us got to experience the joy of rediscovering who Pat really was deep down inside - a loving, caring, grateful woman who always put the business of helping others realize their full potential ahead of her own. Pat is survived by her five children, Cathy (Rick) Neet of Spokane Valley, Tim (Kathy) Leahy of Bellevue, June (Gary) Noren of Seattle, Joe (Cyd) Leahy of Snohomish, and Michael (Christine) Leahy of Clermont, GA., seven grandchildren, Peter, Christopher, Austen (in spirit), William, Malloy, Lauren and Andrew, two great grandchildren, Brooklyn and Harper, brother Millard (Connie) Ebert, sister Jackie (Jack) Harvey, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Thursday, January 14 at 12:30 pm at Holy Rosary Church, 630 7th Ave. North, Edmonds. Due to COVID restrictions, internment to follow will be limited to immediate family members and invited friends at Holyrood Cemetery, 205 NE 205th St., Shoreline.