Meet Saint Therese’s Mailman: Irv Wiese

Saint Therese • January 23, 2020

Saint Therese of Woodbury‘s Superhero Volunteer of the Year for 2020


Imagine being bedridden and unable to do daily tasks, like simply getting your mail, without help. What if you relied on a wheelchair for mobility and dreaded picking up that package you’ve been anxiously awaiting because it’s physically difficult? Have you ever been so sick you allowed a lovely bouquet of delivered flowers to sit lonesome on your porch? These seemingly small situations weigh heavily on some residents and guests who worry over both anticipated and surprise deliveries.


Like most senior living communities, every day there is an abundant amount of packages, flowers and mail delivered to the nearly 300 residents and guests at Saint Therese of Woodbury.

Irv Wiese is an independent living resident at Saint Therese of Woodbury who strives to alleviate that extra stress for his neighbors. Every day, he can be found in our care center, enthusiastically delivering mail and packages to long-term care residents and transitional care guests.


“He always shows up with a smile and a friendly ‘hello’, said Community Life Director Katie Leonard. “All our residents and guests have formed a special relationship with our ‘mailman’ and look forward to seeing him daily.”


The team at Saint Therese has nominated Irv for LeadingAge Minnesota‘s Volunteer of the Year Award because he literally delivers our mission, do ordinary things with extraordinary love, every single day.


He helps me out by delivering mail and packages missing apartment numbers. I cannot say enough good things about Irv,” said Rural Carrier Associate Alanna Proctor, United States Postal Service. “He’s so friendly, personable, responsible and helpful! He… makes my job easier.”

Irv has been our resident since March 2016. After settling into his beautiful apartment with his wife, Delores, it didn’t take him long to realize there was a great need for someone to assist with mail and package deliveries throughout our care center. 



It takes approximately 30-45 minutes each day for Irv to make his rounds. His delivers sometimes include newspapers and literature from our organization or community. When he was asked if he would like some assistance or would prefer to limit his volunteering to specific days, he quickly said no — he enjoys his duties and looks forward to seeing his neighbors every day.

Since Irv became an official volunteer at the end of 2016, (meaning his hours are recorded), he has gifted Saint Therese with more than 600 hours of his time!


“Irv may not be Superman, Spiderman or Aquaman but he is our ‘Superhero Mailman’ of Saint Therese of Woodbury,” said Caroline Cadalbert, marketing director. “Irv has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to older adults by going above and beyond his volunteer duties. That’s why we nominated him for the 2020 Volunteer of the Year with LeadingAge of Minnesota.”


And although Irv was not selected this year by LeadingAge, he’s truly a winner by our standards. We cannot thank him enough for everything he does — even the small things he does with the greatest of love.

Stay Connected


Search All Posts


About

At Saint Therese, our heartfelt purpose since 1968 has been a people first approach to living well by providing senior care and services where every life we touch feels welcomed, respected, and heard. We achieve this by doing ordinary things with extraordinary love every single day. Contact us to learn more. 

By Barb Hemberger June 16, 2025
Generational Connections Changing Lives
By Barb Hemberger June 5, 2025
Shaping the culture, one hire at a time
By Barb Hemberger May 23, 2025
The 2025 America’s Health Rankings® Senior Report was recently released, offering a comprehensive overview of the health and well-being of older adults across the United States. The report, based on 55 measures from 24 distinct data sources, highlights both strides made and challenges persisting in senior health. While there is encouraging progress in areas like reduced early death rates and strengthened social connectedness among older adults, significant mental and behavioral health challenges remain. Key Findings from the Report Falls and obesity rates have stabilized after peaking earlier this decade. The number of geriatric clinicians increased by 5 percent, marking the highest rate ever recorded by the rankings. Volunteerism saw a 19 percent increase between 2021 and 2023. The healthiest state for older adults was Vermont, followed by Colorado, Washington, Utah, and Connecticut. Meanwhile, Mississippi ranked as the least healthy state, with Louisiana, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Kentucky following suit. Insights from States with Saint Therese Senior Communities Minnesota ranked 7th overall, placing it among the top 10 healthiest states for older adults. It showed a promising 13 percent increase in the number of geriatric clinicians between 2021 and 2024. However, the state also experienced a significant 23 percent rise in depression rates among adults aged 65 and older, increasing from 12.8 to 15.7 percent between 2018 and 2023. Michigan secured the 21st spot in the rankings. The state showed notable improvements, including an 18 percent drop in falls, decreasing from 32.6 to 26.7 percent of adults aged 65 and older between 2014 and 2023. Additionally, cognitive difficulty rates decreased by 13 percent, from 8.8 to 7.7 percent during the same period. Ohio ranked 36th overall, but one bright spot was a significant 35 percent increase in the number of geriatric clinicians between September 2019 and September 2024. Positive Signs for Volunteering The news about volunteering is a positive sign as emerging evidence shows that older adults who volunteer regularly have fewer cognitive complaints and a lower risk for dementia compared with those who do not volunteer regularly. At Saint Therese, volunteers are as much a part of our organization as our residents, families, visitors, and employees. We rely on and value the countless hours and dedication of those who support our mission by volunteering in our communities. We are always looking for volunteers. To find out more, or to apply to be a volunteer, please visit us here. The Bottom Line The 2025 Senior Report, produced by the United Health Foundation, underscores the complexities of senior health in the United States. While strides have been made in areas such as access to specialized care and volunteer engagement, persistent challenges like obesity, depression, and behavioral health highlight the need for continued efforts. The Report serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing work needed to ensure a healthier future for older adults across the nation.