By Bonnie Adams, Government Editor
Westborough – For six years, Worcester resident Kim Maloney was not just a waitress at the South Street Diner – she was, in the words of proprietors, Mark Sullivan and Phyllis Keene, a “treasured friend.” So when Kim, who was only 52, passed away suddenly March 19, her colleagues were left heartbroken and stunned.
Kim's most important job was as a mother to three young men – Paul, 22, Ryan, 20 and Kyle, 18. To help her sons after the loss of their mother, Sullivan and Keene have organized a benefit buffet to be held at the diner Saturday, April 14 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Patrons will be able to enjoy a hearty buffet that will include prime rib and chicken parmesan, as well as a number of side dishes. Tickets are $30 each; 100 percent of the proceeds will go toward a fund for Kim's sons, Sullivan said.
“We are doing this for them, to help them out,” he said. “Every penny of the ticket price will go towards the boys.”
“Kim was an exemplary employee – she never missed a shift,” he added. “The only time she ever asked for time off was when one of her boys had an event. She was a wonderful individual and a great, devoted mother.”
She had a real “knack,” he said of making her customers, especially the senior citizens, feel comfortable, he added.
“She used to call them “Babe,” which always made them smile,” he said.
Kim's colleagues recalled her as “fun loving, with a big personality and a big lust for life.” As they recalled their friend, they asked that their names not be mentioned, but rather their memories be noted as a collective recollection from “the girls.” Kim was a beloved member of their group, and her sudden, unexpected loss is especially painful.
There will also be a raffle the night of the event with donations from local businesses and restaurants including the Westboro Country Club, Mulligan's Taverne and Restaurant, Sapporo Korean BBQ & Sushi, Harry's Restaurant, Cheng-Du, J P's Restaurant Pub, Bergson's 1790 Restaurant & Tavern, Bertucci's and Bombtechgolf.com, among others. Raffle tickets are five for $10.
Sullivan said that it is preferred that buffet tickets be purchased in advance, but they will also be available at the door that evening.
“We just hope a lot of people come and help us help Kim's sons,” he added.