Mary Therese Kubala

Mary Therese Kubala (née Wood) passed away on April 16, 2026, at the age of 63. A loving wife, mother, and educator, Mary will be remembered for her strong Catholic faith, her grace and resilience, and her dedication to her family and community.

Born in Rensselaer, Indiana, she graduated from Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas, Texas, where she was voted “Most Friendly,” and earned a BA in Elementary Education with a minor in History from the University of Dallas in 1984. She taught third grade at St. Elizabeth’s in Dallas, where she was also sponsor of the drill team. She married her college sweetheart Dan Kubala in 1987 and soon became a full-time mother.

Mary was incredibly active and enjoyed traveling, hiking, skiing, running, reading, art, and most of all spending time with family. She was a talented visual artist and gardener with a keen eye for detail and style—she was the first to notice a mismatched color. She had an amazing sense of design and was crafty in all pursuits, particularly scrapbooking. She loved jokes and puns (even Dan’s) and had an infectious sense of humor and fun. Although widely admired for her poise and beauty, she also had an impish streak and could lightheartedly needle family and friends with a twinkle in her eye.

Even while raising three boys, Mary was an active parent volunteer at Laurel Mountain Elementary School, Canyon Vista Middle School, and Westwood High School; taught preschool religious education part-time at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Austin; and founded the Good Samaritan Meal Ministry there, which continues to deliver in-home meals to parishioners in need. In 2009, she returned to work full-time at St. Thomas More as the elementary religious education coordinator. Along with Dan, she was active in a range of ministries including marriage preparation, faith sharing, Round Robin dinner club, and Bible study. She was a frequent volunteer at the Charlie Center for homeless individuals, Habitat for Humanity Catholic Build, and Catholic Charities of Central Texas, where she was a member of the Ambassador Circle. She retired in 2020 to care for her parents full time.

Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and with metastatic breast cancer in 2022. She was an unequaled example of dignity, perseverance, hope, and trust in the Lord in her final years. Her unfailing strength amplified all her positive traits and served as an inspiration to everyone she encountered.

Mary is survived by her devoted husband Dan (married 39 years) and three beloved children: Robbie Kubala (and Kyle Mahowald); Daniel Kubala (and Kelly Braddock); and Aaron Kubala (and Amber Houle). She will be greatly missed by her mother Marjorie Wood (née Simanek); her father-in-law Mark Kubala; brothers Bob (and Katie) Wood, Greg (and Mary) Wood, David Wood (and Dee Stephens), and Mark (and Prescilla) Wood; brothers-in-law Tom Kubala and Mark (and Carrie) Kubala; sister-in-law Ann Kubala; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her father Robert Wood and her mother-in-law Betty Kubala (née Fertitta).

The viewing will take place on Thursday, April 23 with visitation starting at 5:30pm and rosary and reflections at 7:00pm at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin. The funeral will be held on Friday, April 24 at 11:00 am at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 10205 N FM 620, Austin.

Instead of flowers, please consider a contribution to METAvivor, a nonprofit that supports metastatic breast cancer research. You can support the fundraising page that Aaron created here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-metavivors-lifechanging-work

Please share your memories and expressions of sympathy below.