Rose Cermak, of Mandan, who at the age of 90 continues to volunteer her time.

St. Alexius is proud to introduce its two volunteers, both of them in their 90s. Rose Cermak and Alice Kotaska are proving that you can give back to your community at any age.

For more than 20 years, Rose Cermak, 90, has called St. Alexius her home away from home. Born and raised in Mandan, Cermak found herself feeling lonely after the death of her husband in 1987. One of the Benedictine Sisters encouraged her to begin volunteering to fill the void, and she’s been doing so ever since.

Cermak says, “There are a lot of people who come here and need someone to talk to, and I have big ears!” She says being able to help others with one small gesture or kind word can be very powerful. “Volunteering helps you as much as you help others. It makes you feel better about yourself.” You’ll find her volunteering Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at the Intensive Care reception desk.

Alice Kotaska may not move as fast as she once did when she was a licensed practical nurse in 1974, but that’s not stopping her from continuing to help others in a hospital setting. Originally from the small North Dakota town of Conway, Kotaska worked as a nurse in Devils Lake and Rollette before retiring from the medical field. Now 91 years old, she recently decided to get back into the setting she once knew so well, this time as a volunteer. “It makes you feel glad to be helping others. It’s a very happy feeling,” Kotaska says. You’ll find her volunteering Thursday afternoons at St. Alexius’ Birth Place.

To learn more about becoming a volunteer, contact St. Alexius Volunteer Services at 530-7159.