PORTSMOUTH—Patricia (Pat) A. Busila, 76, of Portsmouth, VA, peacefully passed away on May 7, 2022, surrounded by her loved ones, after a 31-year courageous battle with metastatic breast cancer.  It would be wrong to say that Pat lost her battle because she never stopped fighting. No matter how sick she was, she was always determined. When anyone else would have broken, Pat stayed strong. Through her, we know what resilience and perseverance truly look like. Just because she is no longer here, it doesn't mean she lost her fight.

She was preceded in death by her father Francis B. Zuber and mother Bertha (Bralczyk) Zuber.  Patricia is survived by her husband Ron; sons Bruce (Kim) and Eric (Angela); brothers Karl Zuber (Linda) and Louis Zuber; grandchildren Justin, Jacob, Emily, Chandler, Rachel, and Dana; and two great-grandchildren, Jackson and Scarlett.

Patricia was born and raised in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania.  After graduating from J.W. Cooper High School, she worked at Miner's National Bank as a teller.  After finding the love of her life, Ron, they wed in September 1965.  After marriage, the new couple moved to Charleston, SC.  While in Charleston, they started their family with two sons, Bruce and Eric.   As a Navy wife, often alone as Ron was deployed overseas, Pat first displayed the resilience and perseverance that would be her enduring character throughout her lifetime.  Pat made fast friends with members of her church, the other Navy wives, and neighbors to make her mark in her new community.  This was another lifelong trait that made Pat so beloved, her ability to make friends from all walks of life.  Her positive outlook, friendly smile, and humor were infectious.

After 10 years of Navy life in Charleston, Ron and Pat moved to Portsmouth, VA to continue raising their two sons.  Once again in a new community, Pat made her mark volunteering at her Church of the Resurrection in Portsmouth, became a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, and after her cancer diagnosis, volunteered at cancer support groups.  Once settled in Portsmouth, Patricia built her career at the US Naval Hospital for 27 years and retired as a purchasing agent supervisor in 2006.  After retirement, she and Ron travelled with a passion.  Every winter, Key West was another new community that Pat become involved with, enjoying her retirement years making new friends.

Pat loved God, her family, friends, and neighbors.  There was no stranger that she would not try to befriend, no matter the circumstance.  No birthday, anniversary, or holiday would pass without a thoughtful card to commemorate someone else's special day.  She was an excellent gift giver, always knew the right thing to say to lift someone's spirits, and made it her mission to improve the lives of others.  Pat loved seeing her family grow with the marriages of both sons.   Their wives were loved as if her daughters.  Her grandchildren were the apple of her eye, loving and supporting each as they grew up to pursue life to the fullest.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 16, at Church of the Resurrection in Portsmouth. Inurnment will take place immediately after at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk.  A reception will follow at Church of the Resurrection.  In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to Church of the Resurrection, 3501 Cedar Lane, Portsmouth VA 23703. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.