Wendy Beth Labenow

Wendy Beth Labenow, aged 56 of Woodbridge, VA passed away on July 16th, 2024. At the time of her passing she was surrounded by loving family and friends. Her last selfless act was to give the gift of life through organ donation to 3 persons. 

Wendy was born on January 18th, 1968 in Bronxville, NY to Sheila and the late Lester Macks. She was born and raised in Mt.Vernon and Ardsley, NY and graduated from Ardsley HS. After HS Wendy was off American University (AU) in Washington DC where she received her Undergraduate degree in Foreign Languages and Psychology. After AU Wendy moved back home to NY to obtain her first Masters degree from Iona College in Secondary Education in Spanish. 

Shortly after Wendy moved down to northern Virginia for good she started working as a foreign language teacher for Prince William Public Schools It was then that Wendy met her husband Adam Labenow. They met in an AOL chat room. It was then that Wendy and Adam moved to Woodbridge, VA to have a fenced in area for the dogs. After several tries Wendy and Adam were blessed with who Wendy referred to as her “miracle baby” Alexander Logan Labenow From day 1 Wendy and Alex were inseparable. Alex would sleep on Wendy’s chest during the midnight feeding and “watch” World Series of Poker on cable TV. 

After nearly 20 years in the classroom Wendy decided she could best help her kids as a School Counselor. Wendy found an online Masters School Counselor program with American Public University that allowed her to continue in the class, tutor and at times work “gig” jobs as the program warranted. Her second masters was completed in less than 3 years. It was then on to her new adventure as a School Counselor in several school districts until she found a home at Herndon High School where she flourished, with students and staff and leadership that she genuinely adorned. At the time of Wendy’s passing she had just started the selection process in determining what Doctoral Program she’d be conquering. 

Wendy had an insatiable desire to learn and to genuinely connect with all she touched. She felt that “everyday's an adventure”. She was active in her temple organizing ONEGs for Shabbat \services, a longtime active member of Hadassah, an actress in multiple community theater productions and a constant supporter of anything and everything involving Alex. 

Wendy is survived by her husband Adam Labenow, son Alexander Labenow, mother Sheila Macks, sister Allie Holzer, niece Layla Holzer, nephew Jordan Vincent and sister-in-law Dawn Lamb. She is preceded in death by her father Lester Macks, mother-in-law Gayle Labenow Flaherty and father-in-law Harvey Labenow. 

Donation information 

Donations can be made to Hadassah 

 Or send a check payable to Hadassah to: Hadassah Metro 80 Main Street, Suite 415 West Orange, NJ 07052 with "WCR IMO Wendy Labenow" in the memo line.