86-Year-Old Cancer Warrior Fulfills Dream in Small West Virginia Town

Clear Facts

• Pauline Monk, 86, of Sissonville, West Virginia, attended the grand opening of her town’s first Taco Bell after advocating for years to bring the restaurant to her community
• Shortly before the restaurant opened, Monk was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given months to live by doctors
• Known now as the ‘Taco Bell Queen,’ Monk is using her viral fame to share her Christian faith and gratitude for her community’s support

An 86-year-old West Virginia woman who wondered if she would live long enough to see her dream come true recently celebrated a Taco Bell grand opening in her hometown—a moment that became far more meaningful than anyone expected.

Pauline Monk of Sissonville, a suburb of Charleston, had spent years hoping her small town would get its own Taco Bell location. Her persistence and enthusiasm became a local talking point.

“I was always wanting a Taco Bell here in this little town of Sissonville,” Monk said.

Her son took up the cause, working to convince the fast-food chain to open a location in their community. When he finally succeeded, he brought his mother the news she’d been waiting for.

“My son…had been working trying to get one,” she said. “He [came] to me one day and he said, ‘Mom, I finally got them to come. They’re coming. They are going to be here for you.'”

But just as her dream was becoming reality, Monk received devastating medical news. After falling ill with a virus and visiting her doctor, tests revealed she had stage 4 cancer. Doctors gave her only months to live.

“Out of nowhere, we found out that I had stage 4 cancer,” she said.

As construction progressed on the Taco Bell, Monk found herself in a race against time. She watched the building take shape, wondering if she would survive to see the doors open.

“As I went up and down the road in front of the Taco Bell, they were working, and I’m just trying to guess and figure out, is the Lord going to let me stay here long enough to be able to see that Taco Bell open?” she questioned. “They were supposed to be for me, and now I may have to leave this world before I get to see it open.”

Monk’s prayers were answered. On opening day, she was brought in early to celebrate. Her son, who had helped bring the restaurant to Sissonville, was set to cut the ribbon and brought his mother along for the honor.

What happened next transformed a simple restaurant opening into something much larger. The Sissonville resident became both a local legend and an internet sensation, with crowds celebrating her achievement.

“They all hollered,” Monk said of the people waiting outside. “They said, ‘She’s the Taco Bell queen.’ So now I’m known everywhere I go as the queen of Taco Bell.”

Monk’s go-to order is a Nachos BellGrande or chicken quesadilla, with cinnamon twists for dessert. Her family has embraced her new title with joy and pride.

But for Monk, the story is about more than fast food. She grew up as one of eight siblings in rural West Virginia and has spent her life in service to others. For decades, she baked pies for members of her church and community.

“Since I’ve been a young girl, I’ve always attended church and been a Christian over the years,” Monk said. “I gave, and I was happy and joyous to give people pies and apple pies.”

Now, in her time of need, that generosity is being returned by those she served.

“Everybody at church, everybody I knew got pies,” she noted. “And now they’re giving it back. I’m getting food from everywhere.”

Monk is being cared for by her devoted husband and family during this difficult season.

“I’ve got a good husband,” she said. “My husband has been so good to take care of me.”

Her deep Christian faith has given her peace as her cancer progresses. Doctors advised against chemotherapy due to her age, and the cancer has since spread to her lungs.

“I know the Lord and the Lord knows me,” Monk said. “I feel like when he’s ready for me to come home, he’ll take me, and I’m ready to go.”

“It’s just a matter of time,” she said. “But while I’m here, I want to spread the word of God and be thankful and help people whatever way I can.”

As her story continues to bring smiles to people across the country, Monk said she remains grateful for the outpouring of love from her family, her community, and strangers who have been touched by the tale of the “Taco Bell Queen.”

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