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Needham's beloved 32-year McDonald's employee has died

NEEDHAM, Mass. — A Needham woman with Down Syndrome, known for her 32-year tenure at a local McDonald's, has died, according to reports.

The Needham restaurant honored Freia David back in 2016, when she retired from her job making french fries after three decades.

All of the meals were happy with Freia, employees said at the event honoring her in August 2016.

"Her smiles, her enthusiasm and her daily hugs made our restaruant more than just a restaurant," McDonald's director of operations Bob Broughton told Boston 25 News then. "It made us part of Freias family."

As the first employee in a program through the Charles River Center, Freia started cleaning tables and worked her way up.

At the event, Freia got a proclamation from the state, a crystal model of McDonald's, a french fry neckace and her favorite, a Minnie mouse.

Longtime customers stopped by to say thank you all day.

Her family at McDonald's said Freia offered them so much more than they could ever offer her.

Freia would often go to McDonald's, even on her day off. She liked a hamburger, no pickle and a sundae with her fries.

You can learn more about the Charles River Center here.

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