Our Ricos matriarch, Patricia Liberto, went to be with our Lord last Saturday. 
Her kindness and love touched the lives of many. Her one-of-a-kind sense of humor and personality will be dearly missed by all. We celebrate her amazing life as she rejoins her loving husband Frank.
Obituary
December 5, 1935 – February 24, 2018
Mrs. Patricia Ann Edwards Liberto (Mimi) went to be with her Lord, at the age of 82, on Saturday, February 24th in San Antonio, Texas. She was born on December 5th, 1935, in San Antonio to Dr. H.H. Edwards and his wife Naomi Quigley Edwards. She attended Incarnate Word grade school and high school. Patricia was vice president of her sophomore class, and was the class treasurer her senior year, graduating in 1954 from IWHS. She then moved to Columbia, Missouri to attend Stephens College which was her mother’s dream. While in college, she mastered shorthand, became the circulation editor of the school paper and took bowling classes for sport. When her future husband, Frank, asked her what her bowling average was, Patricia, sweetly said, “an A”.
Patricia returned to San Antonio and worked in the human resources department at Friedrich Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. On March 2, 1957, she married the love of her life, Frank Liberto. Together they raised three children, Denise, Rick and Tony. Her top priority was being a devoted wife and mother with her beloved house keeper, Teresa by her side. Patricia served on both boards of the PTC of Mt. Sacred Heart Boys and Girls Schools where her children attended. During those years, she formed friendships with other parents that lasted her lifetime. She continued supporting her children in all their endeavors throughout her life. She was known for her infinite generosity and love for her family.
In the 1960’s, Patricia and Frank opened the first snack bar type restaurant in the brand new North Star Mall, which was the first of it’s kind in America. This led to the creation of Dine-a-Mite Foods, which Pat managed and eventually became a chain of snack bars in shopping centers throughout South Texas. Pat and Frank lovingly named their snack bars after family members and their pets. Pat enjoyed spending time at the snack bar, making friends and people watching from behind the counter. This continued throughout her children’s grade school and high school years.
She joined her husband at Ricos Products Company, in 1983, where she worked daily and was fondly referred to as Miss Pat. She served as Corporate Treasurer and sat on the Board of Directors and was a fixture in the office until the day she died.
Patricia was a member and officer of the Sultanas de Bejar, the Junior Forum and St. Monica’s Guild. In May 2014 she was honored by the Battered Women and Children’s Shelter, “La Paloma de la Paz” which is a part of Family Violence Prevention Services. In 2002, she received the Incarnate Word High School Alumnae Award of Distinction, the Mother Columkille Colbert Award, for her commitment to her community and for carrying forward the mission of the Sisters of Charity at Incarnate Word. She was a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Church ACTS Community and served as a team member on several retreats.
After being diagnosed at age 50 with Type I diabetes, she made it her life’s mission to help fund the research to find a cure. She served on the Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) where she and her family are annual sponsors of the JDRF One Walk, Masters Fore a Cure Golf Tournament, and the JDRF Gala. In 2002, Pat and Frank were honorees of the annual Gala and in 2013 they chaired the Gala along with their family. Patricia and her family, through Ricos Products, were committed supporters of a multitude of arts, education, healthcare and religious organizations.
Pat always enjoyed being in her “happy place”, Port Aransas, Texas, where she spent many summers at the family beach cottage with her beloved grandmother, Mamma Edwards. She continued the tradition of spending summers at the beach with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild expanding the family cottage and creating many fond memories.
Patricia is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Frank Gerard Liberto, her parents; Dr. H.H. Edwards and Naomi Edwards, her brothers; Harry Edwards and Bobby Edwards and daughter; Mary Patricia Liberto. Patricia is survived by her daughter, Denise Pfeiffer and her husband Bill, her sons; Rick Liberto and Tony Liberto and his wife Catherine, her sisters; Martha Ettalee Pape and Melissa Edwards Packham, her grandchildren; Megan and her husband Cameron, Preston, Danielle, Brianna, Madeline and Nicolas and her great-grandson; Wyatt, her nieces and nephews; Kristina Pape Kellogg and her church great nieces Amber and Erika, Kevin Pape, Bryan Pape, and Shannon McMurrey, and her great nieces and nephews; Patch, Robert, Addy, Dylan, Hayden, and Hunter. The family would also like to acknowledge the long-time love and support of Maria, Nancy, Linda and Tay and her special loving hairdresser John Anthony.
The family will host a visitation on Sunday, March 4th at St Anthony de Padua Catholic Church, 102 Lorenz Rd, San Antonio TX 78209 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
ROSARY
SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2018 7:00PM
ST ANTHONY DE PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH
MASS
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2018 12:00PM
ST. ANTHONY DE PADUA CATHOLIC CHURCH
Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Pallbearers: Preston Petri, Nicolas Liberto, Cameron MacDiarmid, Kevin Pape, Bryan Pape, Robert Scribner, and Jim Whitehead.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Patricia’s name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Energy Plaza, 8610 New Braunfels, Suite 700, San Antonio, TX 78217; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or the Oblate School of Theology, 285 Oblate Dr. San Antonio, TX 78216.
You are invited to sign the Guestbook at
www.porterloring.com
Published in Express-News on Feb. 28, 2018
Obituary Online: http://bit.ly/2oAunQJ