Patricia Engelbach

On Thursday, June 30th, 2022, Patricia Engelbach, loving wife of the late Robert Engelbach and mother of three children, passed away at the age of 76.

Pat was born on November 25th, 1945 in Kingston, Jamaica to Bertie and Isabel (Barnett) Taaffe. After emigrating to the United States at the age of 10, she graduated from Mother Cabrini High School, located in New York City. Pat always considered herself to be an experiential learner and sought out knowledge throughout her entire life.

Patricia arrived with her husband, who worked for James Rouse, in the soon-to-be planned community of Columbia, MD in 1967. They settled into Wilde Lake Village, the first village center in Columbia, and started their family and life. Columbia was officially launched by James Rouse and team as a pre-planned community in 1968, one of the most successful pre-planned communities to date. Pat and others who were present at that time considered themselves to be "Pioneers" of the newly established community. An understanding that translated to how she viewed herself in the community and the subsequent name of her business, which still exists to this very day. She was truly an entrepreneur.

Pat had many passions and talents. She could always be found on the dance floor (or dancing anywhere frankly) and tennis court, and she was a creative soul who is remembered through the artwork she left behind. She was a published author and wrote eloquently about the rights of patients as they transitioned to death, in her book Last Rights, Taking Care with Your Final Journey.

She was a faithful member of the Kittamaqundi Community Church and brought to that community the same spirit of faithfulness upon which she founded her company, Pioneer Custom Cleaning, Inc. In 1985, Pat started her business as a "mission unto itself" and saw it as a way to elevate cleaning professionals and honor the esteem and dignity of all people, exactly how she lived her life.

She was devoted to her children and grandchildren, and will always be a beloved Gammy. We see her spirit in all of them. She loved unconditionally and would make anyone feel they were the most important person in the room.

Pat was preceded in death by her father Bertie Taaffe and her husband Robert Engelbach. She is survived by her mother, Isabel Taaffe; her children Teresa, Robyn, and Bill; her stepson Jim; her brothers Ashley and Butch; her sister Gerri; her grandchildren Elena, Ben, Alison, Ethan, Carter, and Quinn; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, August 14th, 2022, at the Carriage House at Kittamaqundi Community Church at 3 o'clock pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association.