Irwin's Ruth Shuster, 100-year-old McDonald's employee, remembered fondly

If Ruth Shuster spent any time standing still, it came as a surprise to her family.

From nearly three decades of working at McDonald’s Big Mac Museum in North Huntingdon, to hosting holidays well into her 90s, to twice-weekly square dances, the 100-year-old never seemed to slow down. As a matter of fact, her boss recently asked her to come in an extra day during the week, according to daughter-in-law Mary Lou Shuster of Irwin.

“He asked her to come in four days a week instead of three because people would come to the McDonald’s and ask about her,” Mary Lou said. “She was all about customer service and entertaining people, especially children.”

Ruth N. Shuster of Irwin died Sunday, Jan. 16. She was 100.

Born in the Brush Hill section of North Huntingdon, Shuster was the daughter of Italian immigrants Jack and Mary Nicolette. She went to the former Shafton and Scull schools, graduating from Norwin High School in 1938. As a teenager, she earned money working for 18 months as a seamstress at a downtown Irwin business. It was work through the Works Progress Administration, an ambitious employment program that gave jobs to millions of Americans during President Franklin Roosevelt’s administration.

It was one of a wide variety of jobs Shuster would have during her life.

“Mom was always getting a job somewhere,” Mary Lou Shuster said. “She worked at Spencer’s Gifts, at the A&P, a bunch of places.”

She has been an elected election official in her hometown since 1947.

Before her job at McDonald’s, Shuster was working at the local YWCA.

“I told her she shouldn’t leave there because she’d never get hours that good at McDonald’s,” said her granddaughter Stephanie DiBernardo of Greensburg. “But they were very good to her.”

A small memorial for Shuster was set up at the Big Mac Museum on Route 30. The marquee reads: “Rest in peace, Ruthie. Thank you for the sunshine!”

When Shuster turned 100 last year, the franchise made her “Queen for a Day,” throwing her a party at the restaurant, and the local fire companies picked her up for a parade through town to celebrate the occasion.

“The McFamily has lost an effervescent light,” said Michael Delligatti, owner of the restaurant. “Ruthie Shuster’s sunny optimism brought joy to everyone who knew her. We treasure her vivacious spirit in our memories and offer our deepest sympathies to her loved ones.”

Grandson Zak Shuster said many of his students at Hempfield over the years knew his grandmother from the restaurant.

“So many of my students have a story like, ‘She used to let me help her clean the windows,’ ” he said. “Everyone who met her has a story.”

Zak’s favorite stories areabout spending the holidays with his grandmother.

“I would always come over early and help mash the potatoes,” he said. “She would host every single holiday. She cooked all the food, three meats for the meal, and if you mentioned a friend, she would say, ‘Sure, of course they can come!’ ”

Mary Lou Shuster said her mother-in-law hosted every major holiday until she was 99 years old — “and would’ve kept going if covid hadn’t ruined it.”

Shuster was also an avid fan of square dancing, attending dances twice a week at the Alwine Civic Center in Greensburg.

“She didn’t sit a dance out,” Zak Shuster said. “She’d dance with my sister, come back and grab me for the next song. She was nonstop.”

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