After 33 years cooking in someone else's kitchen, Mary “Mumma” Labonte is about to open her own.

Labonte, a longtime Wareham resident who worked at Lindsey’s Restaurant for over 30 years  (most recently as General Manager), said that prior to this summer, she decided to take an extended vacation.

“After taking a couple of months off, not having a break in 33 years, I said, ‘Well, it’s time to let me do it for myself,’” said Labonte.

Tentatively schedule to open on Saturday, December 20, Mumma Mary’s will offer Italian specialties including family-style dinners and catering, as well. The business will be located in the spot formerly occupied by the Gourmet and Gourmand bakery at 219 Main Street.

“It’s going to be basic Italian home-cooking,” said Labonte. “The traditional favorites—spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, the Sicilian pizza squares like you see on the counter when walking in the North End (of Boston), chicken parmesan, veal, some salads and specialty sandwiches, homemade stuffed peppers, and I’ll have what I hope will be my house favorite for soup—the Mini Meatball soup in a chicken tomato broth with homemade dumplings.”

Labonte said for now, she’ll limit the menu to these items, and as time goes on, she’ll likely add to it.

“And if there’s something not on the menu, I’ll got out of my way to try to make it for them,” she added.

Labonte said she’s always referred to others as “Mumma,” and after cooking for years in Wareham at Lindsey’s, for her sons’ sports teams, and at other events around town, she became known as Mumma, and felt it would be a perfect name for her business.

“That started at Lindsey’s—it’s a term of endearment . . . I called everybody ‘Mumma.’ Even adults call me Mumma. People know me as Mumma Mary.”

Labonte said that part of her focus for the business will be on providing quality, affordable options, especially for families on the go. “Mumma’s platters” will feature chicken parmesan, ziti, lasagna, meatballs, sausages, rolls and butter, and will feed a family of four to five for $29.99.

“It’s for busy people—now you’re getting a nice home-cooked meal,” she said. “You might not have the time  to cook, but you want to give your family a good meal. It’s cost effective for people, and hopefully they’ll be able to come a few times a week.”

To start, Mumma Mary’s will employ about five people, including Labonte’s two sons Brett and Michael. She’ll also have espresso and cappuccino and sell different types of breads and food products to go.

Labonte said her mother loved to cook, also serving up meals at several functions around Wareham, and by opening her own restaurant, she’ll continue to get the opportunity to feed people.

“I’m Italian, so I love to feed people” said Labonte. “It makes me happy. I am so excited. I’ll be doing most of the cooking, but my goal is to get out and talk to the customers and have fun. I just get a real joy out of watching people enjoy food.”