Dedicated director kept Meals on Wheels rolling straight into retirement
Mary Pataky spent the past 30 years committed to ensuring Butler County’s Meals on Wheels program ran smoothly, making certain the program’s clients had their meals delivered regardless of the weather or time of day.
Pataky, who recently retired as the program’s director, started with Meals on Wheels in 1993 as an assistant cook. She also worked as volunteer coordinator and assistant director before becoming the program’s director.
On Friday, Oct. 20, current and former Meals on Wheels volunteers joined members of the community at a reception to honor her service.
“Thirty years, I don’t know where they went, but they were such good years,” Pataky told the group.
Eagle reporter Irina Bucur covered the reception and said everyone seemed to have a heartwarming story illustrating Pataky’s commitment to the mission.
“She always wants to help,” said Natalie Wall, the program’s assistant director and volunteer coordinator. “She would go above and beyond no matter what it took.”
Marilyn Boyer, who has volunteered with Meals on Wheels for about nine years, said Pataky’s dedication and spirit always stood out.
“She’s a wonderful, wonderful, heartfelt part of everything here,” Boyer said. “She cares about everybody. She cares about all of us. She cares about the clients that she serves. She cares about the kitchen.”
Two-and-a-half years ago, Pataky was diagnosed with cancer. She said getting up to work each morning and seeing her friends at Meals and Wheels helped her.
“You know, you wake up and you don’t feel too good, you just keep yourself going and you know you’re coming in to spending the day with your friends,” Pataky said. “In the long run it was good. It helps with the process.I got to meet the best people ever here at Meals on Wheels.”
Pataky said she was drawn to the organization because it allowed her to help her neighbors.
“It’s just taking care of your own here in the community,” she said. “That’s what we should do. We should step up.”
We wish Pataky good health and happiness in her retirement and hope Meals on Wheels continues to operate as smoothly as it did under her direction.
– JGG
