'Ms. Mary' retires from New Kensington Eat 'n Park after 35 years with company - TribLIVE

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Servers at Eat ‘n Park in New Kensington never had to worry about the food they took to diners when Mary Burke was in the kitchen.

“When she was doing prep and cooking, her food was always amazing, perfect,” server Kristy Reid said. “She cared about how she sent food out. She cared about how she served everything.”

Burke, 65, of Arnold, retired in September after working for Eat ‘n Park for 35 years. She started in 1985 in Harmar, and moved to New Kensington 15 years ago after the Harmar location closed.

“It was supposed to be a part-time job and it turned into a full-time job,” she said, explaining that she went full-time to support her two sons after her husband, Robert Burke, died in 1995. “They played football and ate like a horse.”

A New Kensington native, Burke went looking for a job after taking a chef course. One of those applications was to Eat ‘n Park.

“They were the first one to call back so I took the job there,” she said.

She’s been a cook, baker, prep person and worked the salad bar over the years.

When the Harmar location closed, Burke chose to work in New Kensington near her home while others transferred to the location at the Pittsburgh Mills in Frazer.

“There was some good days and there was some bad days,” she said. “I liked working there.”

Burke said she decided to call it a career after a recent illness.

“I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate Mary and her recent retirement,” said Mercy Senchur, chief operating officer for Eat ‘n Park. “Mary’s full-of-life personality has not only created smiles at our New Kensington restaurant, but also throughout the New Kensington community. She creates a lasting impression on everyone she meets and we’re so fortunate that Mary shared not only her talents with us, but also her wisdom, laughter and kindness.”

While not as visible as servers, customers came to know Burke, who many customers and her co-workers affectionately address as “Ms. Mary.”

Brandon Vallies, of Lower Burrell, said she’d help keep his son, Brody, 6, in line if he started getting rambunctious in the restaurant.

“She’s one of the nicest ladies I ever met,” he said, saying her retirement is well-deserved. “She had a long career. I’m happy to hear she’s resting finally.”

General Manager Michelle Heasley said they haven’t been able to have a celebration for Burke yet because of the covid-19 pandemic. They hope to do something at the picnic tables outside sometime soon.

“She was a very nice lady. She did everything for us,” Heasley said. “She’d work Saturdays and Sundays, sometimes from 5 in the morning to 5 or 6 at night to make sure we had enough prep to get through our day. She was a very, very good and loyal employee.”

Burke said customers would ask for “Ms. Mary” to make their food because “her food looks like the picture.”

“If it doesn’t look good to you, it’s not going to look good to your customers,” she said. “Don’t serve anything you wouldn’t eat.”

Cook Ronnie Melzer said he’s missed Burke every day, and her absence has been felt.

“Everything she touches is perfection,” he said.

Burke said she’ll work a couple more years at the Golden Dawn grocery store in New Kensington, where she’s worked in the deli for eight years. She said she’ll pop in to Eat ‘n Park as a customer once in a while — she likes the chicken strip salad.

“I’m so sad that she’s gone,” Reid said. “But I know where to find her.”

Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian at 724-226-4701, brittmeyer@triblive.com or via Twitter .

Categories: Local | Valley News Dispatch

1 Response to "'Ms. Mary' retires from New Kensington Eat 'n Park after 35 years with company - TribLIVE"

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