PEOPLE PROFILES
THE HEART & SOUL OF A COMMUNITY
ITS PEOPLE
In a 2016 community survey, 97 percent of Vadnais Heights’ residents rated their quality of life as“ good” or“ excellent.” They love their City for a variety of reasons: its woods, lakes, wetlands and trails; strong, healthy neighborhoods with a range of housing; easy highway access to“ Up North” and close proximity to the Twin Cities; several medical facilities within City borders; a strong business sector that keeps taxes low; two highly-rated school districts along with Minnesota’ s largest community college“ next door”; and, a variety of restaurants, hotels and shopping venues. Yet, all these“ comforts of home” would not be available to Vadnais Heights’ nearly 13,000 residents if not for the people who first settled and farmed the land; built the neighborhoods, roads, schools and businesses; organized the government; and, voluntarily founded vital nonprofits to serve others.
Following are but a few“ people profiles” that reflect the heart and soul of today’ s Vadnais Heights’ community.
PEOPLE PROFILES
SUSETTE PARENTEAU SENIOR CARE NURSE
Two of Susette Parenteau’ s passions include ice fishing and judo( she’ s a Brown Belt). She says,“ I started judo when I was 14, and I won many competitions back in the day; I haven’ t competed for many, many years.” Another passion is her job – which she says is“ my life’ s work, my calling.” Parenteau is a licensed practical nurse at Gable Pines, Vadnais Heights’ first senior living center.
A nurse for over 22 years and with Gable Pines since it opened June 2016, Parenteau says,“ I believe in Gable Pines’ mission: Taking care of our seniors and enriching their lives as they have enriched ours; allowing them to age with grace and dignity and feeling
cared for. I’ m rewarded by the love and compassion of our residents. They’ re like‘ one big family,’ and everyone looks out for each other.”
It must seem very much like home for Parenteau, who grew up on 6th Street in downtown White Bear Lake; now she lives in Danbury, Wisconsin and commutes to Vadnais Heights with her husband, Calvin. Most of their family lives in White Bear Lake and Vadnais Heights; she grew up going to the Heritage Days’ Booya and fishing on White Bear Lake.
Parenteau took a year off from senior care to help care for her younger brother who was dying of kidney cancer.“ It was a very sad time for me, but I knew it was time for me to return to my calling when a 96-year-old dementia client came to the doctor’ s office I was working in, and I began crying. I realized then how much I missed my senior patients. Gable Pines is a happy place; the wisdom and comfort of the elders lie in their hugs and gentle touches when a loved one is lost. It’ s ��������������������������������������� give.”
16 Vadnais Heights Business Guide & Community Profile