After 31 years, DHS 'lunch lady' says farewell

In her 31 years feeding hungry students at Douglas High School, nutrition manager Betty Larrouy has weathered food fights, rowdy kids and ever-changing regulations.

What Larrouy brought to the table every day was her love of kids and cooking.

"I believe it's enjoying what you're doing," she said in a recent interview. "I just love to cook."

She ends her career as the high school's chief cook and bottle washer this month.

"It's been quite an experience," Larrouy said. "The time went so quickly."

She turns 72 in August and had been considering retirement for a few years, but the love of the job kept her coming back.

"I'm getting a little older," she said. "I thought I might go a little bit longer. I've had a few little things - not really health issues - but they set me back a little and I thought it's time."

When Larrouy's three children were younger, she thought a part-time school job would be ideal.

"The kids said, 'You're going to cook at school?'" Larrouy recalled.

"I said I don't want to be a secretary, I'd rather cook and see what you kids are up to," she said.

That was in 1975 when the high school first opened.

"I've seen many, many changes," she said of her three decades in the cafeteria.

At 4 feet, 10 inches tall, Larrouy commandeered a foot stool early in her career so she could reach shelves and have a better vantage point from which to survey her kitchen kingdom.

"I've seen principals and teachers come and go. I've watched the kids growing up. Some of them come back with their little kids to say hello. They don't forget you," she said.

Larrouy has been much more than the "lunch lady" for many students.

"They would send some of the not-very-nice kids to me to work in the kitchen," she said. "I fed them well and all of them have been really good. I never had to report they gave me any trouble. Some of the kids call me 'Mom' and, now, 'Grandma.'

"Some of them kind of confide things to me. They've been doing it for years."

Larrouy is also proud of the student aides she has mentored and the scholarship fund she and her food service co-workers created selling her famous cinnamon rolls and lunch items during the annual high school Christmas fair.

"Some of the scholarship winners really went big time," she said. "They come back and say, 'If it wasn't for you, I never would have gone to college.'"

Larrouy has advice for her successor:

"She has to be dedicated," Larrouy said. "If you don't like what you're doing, you're not going to be happy. There are rules to follow and you also have to be very friendly. Your personality is pretty important. You have to have patience and believe in the students."

A sense of humor helps.

"The kids like to see you do fun things," she said. "We wore pajamas on Pajama Day on Hawaii Day, we wore Hawaiian shirts."

She is very close to her kitchen staff.

"I've met wonderful people here," she said. "All the girls that work with me and all the teachers come in. We just discuss so many things, it's like my family."

Larrouy was thrilled to be selected as one of the escorts for the senior class on graduation day June 16.

In her cap and gown, she and the school's teacher of the year, Keith Cole, will lead the graduates onto the field.

"The kids were excited I am finally graduating from DHS," she said. "I'll probably cry throughout the whole ceremony."

She got some surprising news when she was measured for her cap and gown.

"I found out I am 4-feet-10. I used to be 4-11-1/2!" said.

Larrouy plans to stay busy. She's an active member of St. Gall Catholic Church where she puts her culinary skills to work on a variety of projects.

"It's going to be really, really hard for awhile," she said of her retirement.

She is used to arriving at the high school at 6 a.m. to prepare breakfast.

"It's like it's my kitchen," she said.