Doctors diagnosed her with ovarian cancer, and the downward spiral began for the business, which had been in operation for about five years.

In addition to the payments for the new store, Woodbury was already in debt from a previous business endeavor, a restaurant by the Lite-R-Side label which failed in 2003.

“I was way out of my mission statement,” she said. “It went from bad to worse, and I lost a lot of money on the operation, so I decided just to close.”

While Woodbury underwent treatments to combat cancer, the catering business was all but closed, too. She catered to many MSU colleges but did little else.

After she completed cancer treatments just before Thanksgiving, things started to look up, Woodbury said, especially with name recognition from the old restaurant.

“Once I opened up, people saw I had a sign. Everyone kept walking in and asking ‘Are you the Lite-R-Side that used to be?’” she said. “It was such a real treat for me. They gave me the strength to keep persevering so nothing would happen to the business.”

Woodbury’s mission was serving healthy food to those who might not otherwise spring for the high cost of catering, but now she focuses her efforts on further spreading faith.

“I consider myself a faith-based catering company, and I try my hardest to help people,” she said. “I work with people’s budgets, I feel that’s my gift. I want people to eat healthy rather than go get pizza every time because that’s all they can afford to serve students or even faculty members.”

Woodbury’s objectives include making all her employees feel like they are part of a family, said Matt Robinson, an interdisciplinary studies in social science senior who works for Woodbury.

“I’ve worked (for Woodbury) for two-and-a-half years, and it’s meant a lot to me,” Robinson said. “It has been like a second home. There’s definitely a comfort level here you won’t find most places, because Libby goes out of her way to make it so.”

Adam Pendowski, a friend of Woodbury’s son, came to East Lansing from Indianapolis to help her get through the tough times. Now, he is considering staying on full time due to the relaxed environment at the business.

“It’s a lot of fun and you get to eat all the tasty treats,” he said. “She caters to everybody’s needs, not just hers. She’ll work around anybody’s schedules and pick them up if they need it.”

In essence, Woodbury said, her catering business is about two things:

“Eat well; give lots of hugs.”