Maria R. Labao

Mai was born in Manila, Philippines, to Ramon and Rosario Montanes on October 16, 1945. Mai came from a large loving family with eleven siblings. She maintained great relationships with all her family and friends across the miles.

Mai attended Cecilio Elementary School and Arellano High School. She went on to attend the University of Sto. Tomas in Manila to further her education.

Ricardo Labao and Mai tied the knot in 1972 in Manila, in an intimate wedding ceremony surrounded by their close family and friends. Mai later moved to the United States in 1997 to join her children for a better life. Mai is survived by Ricardo, her husband of 50 years. She is also survived by her three children, Bernard Alan (Ma Teresa Alvarez), Michael Albert (Mahwish Abdi) and Melieza Kenzy Matta (Rubelsi); and grandchildren Dominic, Meliza, Zhamaira, Carlo, Rubelsi Jr. and Natasha Mae.

Mai and Ricardo decided to make the big move to Texas from New Jersey in 1998 to be closer to their family and loved ones. Mai started working at Walmart alongside her husband for more than 10 years. She retired from Walmart in 2011.

Mai was known for her love of jewelry and having an impeccable style. However, nothing beat her love for basketball, especially her beloved Houston Rockets. There was never a game she missed. She was a passionate fan and could talk about the games for hours. She loved Ginebra San Miguel's Robert Jaworski of the PBA (Philippines Basketball Association). She was also a competitive Super Mario Bro player, challenging her sons and later her grandsons to games which would go on for hours.

Mai was known for her culinary skills, and always came up with new ways to improve her cooking. She loved traveling, especially to the Philippines and Japan to visit her nieces, nephews, sisters, and loved ones. She had great love for the Filipino dramas, contests, and anything relating to Filipino television.

Funeral visitation will be held from 5 - 9 p.m. on Friday, September 16, at Brookside Funeral Home-Cypress Creek located at 9149 Highway 6 N, Houston, 77095.

The family is requesting 5 - 6 p.m. to be reserved for private visitation, and 6 - 9 p.m. for friends and family.

Funeral services will be held at Brookside Funeral Home at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 17.

Graveside service will follow promptly at Carmen Nelson Bostick Cemetery, “A Garden of God,” located at 12317 Holderrieth Road, Tomball, 77375.

The reception will be held at the Labao residence.

The family of Maria “Mai” Labao wishes to extend our deepest gratitude to the EMTs, the doctors and nurses of Memorial Hermann Hospital. We would also like to express our appreciation to the staff of Brookside Funeral Home and Carmen Nelson Bostick Cemetery.