It’s been a different week at Lasyone’s Meat Pie Kitchen and Restaurant on Second Street.
For the first time in 53 years, Marilyn Demars is not working as a waitress. She has retired, and was celebrated Sunday afternoon in a well-attended reception in her honor at the Natchitoches Events Center.
For some loyal customers, it was the first time they’d seen her not wearing her trademark Lasyone’s gear. But it was still the same delightful smile, and smirk, and charm, on display as she heard several family members, friends and customers pay tribute to her.
Family from near and far gathered and enjoyed a lavish spread of Lasyone’s specialties as fellow staff kept guests well fed.
Angela Lasyone, who inherited the restaurant management from her parents and has worked alongside her sister Tina for years, said they were deeply appreciative of Marilyn and her deep impact on the business.
Angela told the crowd she wasn’t quite sure how this week would work without her most loyal and knowledgeable employee.
Humor was a constant theme of the remarks about Marilyn – especially how she enjoyed keeping some of her most loyal and playful regulars “in line.”
The overwhelming sentiment was gratitude – for her flawless service, for her kindness, warmth and ability to welcome visitors and new customers as if they were old friends.
In brief remarks, Marilyn cited her faith and family, and her co-workers and customers, as key to her longevity at Lasyone’s, and said she planned to continue her service to her church while she adjusted to her new lifestyle.
Natchitoches Parish and all the loyal patrons of Lasyone’s will have a bigger adjustment without their favorite waitress, but after 53 years, she said she has plenty of things she wants to do in the years ahead.
Photos by ERICK WILSON, courtesy of the Demars family
