Mary Elizabeth "Libby" Rodak

Her family arrived in America in 1635. Many fought in the American Revolutionary War when the cry was “no king but Jesus.” Her great, great grandparent’s home in Springfield, Kentucky, is on the National Historic Registery and was used as a hospital in the Civil War. Her family arrived in South Florida before the turn of the century as pioneers to Miami and Hialeah. Her grandfather, Percy Hackney, served on the first Hialeah City Council as clerk and treasurer. Her mother, Mary Elizabeth Anderson, and her father, Carroll David Bright, graduated from Miami Edison Senior High and the University of Miami. Her father, while a student at UM was called to serve in World War II. He returned following the war to earn a law degree from UM.

Libby graduated from Miami Jackson Senior High School where she was a majorette and modeled for the late Jordan Marsh Department Store. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and top of her nursing class at the University of Miami. She was awarded the University of Miami Alumni award for Outstanding Clinical Performance, Professionalism, and Community Service.

Libby dedicated her nursing career to the preemies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Medically Fragile and Technology Dependent Children and their families. She had a heart for the hurting: young, old, the physically, spiritually, or emotionally in pain. She especially loved working at Mercy Hospital with the nuns. She received the Baptist Hospital Hospitality award while working there. She supported many professional organizations including being a delegate to the Florida Nursing Association Convention, The American Nursing Association, Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Phi Lambda Pi Fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi National Association of Neonatal Nurses, the Association for Death Education and Counseling, and Supporters of Sunrise for the Developmentally Disabled where her special needs nephew, Scotty Tremblay, resides. After a near fatal automobile accident forced a medical retirement from nursing, she devoted her time to Hospice and Camp Hope (for children who lost parents or siblings to cancer) as a certified grief counselor.

She served her Lord faithfully at Olympia Heights United Methodist Church for 60 years where she became a certified Stephen Minister to help and counsel those in crisis. She taught Sunday School and Bible studies to adults, teenagers, and children. She chaired and served on various boards and committees and received the Outstanding Methodist Women’s Special Membership Award. She was still leading the prayer team ministry for those ill and suffering at the time of her death. She had a heart for missions, and she supported many over the years.

If you did a favor for her, you were likely to be rewarded with her Key Lime Pie, a recipe she has shared with many. Her children also loved the special Christmas treats: Very Good Cookies, Banana Bread, Mint Brownies, and Pumpkin Bread. She never forgot a birthday, anniversary, or holiday and sent cards to extended family and friends to mark the occasion. She also sent get well or thinking of you cards and delivered them with roses to shut-ins from the church. She called this her “ministry of cards.”

She loved her Lord, her family, and her friends. She was married 31 years to the late Captain Walter Rodak of the City of Miami Police Department. She was the loving mother of Dawn, David, and Lori (David) and the beloved Grandmommy of Samantha and Bradley. She is survived by her brother, Christopher, cousin, Bill, and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents Carroll David Bright and Mary Elizabeth (Anderson) Bright, and her sister, Sandra Carroll Bright. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Caballero Rivero Woodlawn South, 11655 SW 117th Ave, Miami, FL 33186. The visitation will be at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Libby’s name to:

Supporters of Sunrise for the Developmentally Delayed

c/o Sunrise Community Inc.

9040 Sunset Drive

Miami, FL 33173

.