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