Daddio's waitress makes every day a holiday

While most of you are enjoying an extra hour or two of sleep, Sue Dean is at work at Daddio's Diner at 4:30 a.m., doing double duty as a short-order cook getting ready for the early morning breakfast rush.

The popular waitress at Batavia's downtown diner has been at the job for 36 years, cooking and serving.

"I remember coming down here to get a job," she said. "I applied at Ben Franklin but they weren't hiring. Then I tried the Jewel. When I got to the Colonial, the manager hired me on the spot."

There must have been loyalty and dedication written all over her face. Dean stayed with the job, working for Lori's Diner, Kathy's Diner and now Daddio's.

While some would complain about a job that puts you on your feet 10 hours a day, Sue Dean is quick to point out how much she enjoys being a waitress.

"There are always waitressing jobs out there," she added. "Where else do you get to meet people and serve them?"

At first, Dean had a hard time. She was very shy and quiet. As she grew into the job, her confidence grew and she became more comfortable interacting with customers.

"She's a lovely gal," said regular customer Phil Elfstrom. "She's always so pleasant and friendly."

Her willingness to make the customer happy is what keeps the regulars coming back, along with the great food. She wants to make sure that people enjoy the restaurant and return.

Whether it is a large group of people or a single person, Dean makes sure that all are comfortable.

"When we have people sitting alone at the counter, we often try to engage them in conversation so that they will feel comfortable sitting next to each other," she said.

If you watch Sue Dean at work, she is always on the move, making sure that there is coffee on the table and that all of her customers' needs are being met.

"Years ago, my daughter had an assignment to describer your mother in one word." said Sue. "Her word was 'hyper' and it's true. I really need to be busy."

She admits that sometimes she has a hard time remembering customers' names but she never forgets what a regular customer orders.

"I'll look at someone and think 'sausage omelette' or 'blueberry pancakes,'" she said.

Over the years, the name of the restaurant may have changed but the customers are much the same, as are the people who work in the restaurant.

"We're like a family here and the people who come here are too," said Dean. "There's a small-town feel and that hasn't changed over the years. The only thing that has changed is that every thing runs at a faster pace now."

That doesn't seem to bother the energetic waitress. She thrives on it. Even when she gets an evening out with her husband she finds herself watching the waitress.

"My husband will even comment on it," she said. "I don't know why I do it, just habit, I guess."

Although Sue Dean had Thanksgiving Day off, there is no presidential pardon for a waitress who has served hundreds of turkey dinners in the past four decades. She was at home, cooking up traditional favorites and serving her family.

"It's the same food year after year," she said. "But that's what everybody wants and I am happy to do it."

When you offer thanks this holiday season, remember the Sue Deans of the world - those who love their jobs and are happy to go the extra mile to make others happy.