It’s no longer en route, on the way or out for delivery. Diocesan Mailroom Supervisor Minnie Tuck’s retirement has arrived.
Forty years ago, Tuck was looking for an easier commute to work. So she took a chance and applied to be a mail clerk at the Diocese of Arlington chancery. After 10 years as a clerk, she worked 30 more as the mailroom supervisor. She’s retiring this February, but she’ll miss the “work family” she leaves behind. “I love the atmosphere, I love the people, I love to work,” said Tuck. “I love my job and it’s been an honor and a pleasure to come in every day.”
For four decades, Tuck has sorted incoming mail and helped employees package and prepare outgoing mail. She served as a liaison between the U.S. Postal Service and the diocese, alerting church leaders to price increases or closings. She’s learned to deal with the days when the mail meter machine isn’t working or the letter carrier doesn’t deliver the mail.
She’s seen many changes during her tenure. The mailroom has moved around the building. The price of a stamp has risen from 20 cents in 1985 to 78 cents today. She now sends emails to let departments know when the mail arrives. The diocese has grown, with more parishes and larger chancery departments. She has had five supervisors, 10 postmasters general and three bishops — John R. Keating, Paul S. Loverde and Michael F. Burbidge. “All three wonderful men of God,” said Tuck, who is a Pentecostal Christian.
Though she’s looking forward to retirement, it’s a bittersweet occasion, said Tuck. She had hoped to celebrate with her husband, George. But both she and George were hospitalized with coronavirus in 2020, and George died of the illness. Experiencing the love and kindness of her co-workers during that difficult time is what she’ll remember most from her 40 years at the diocese. “My diocese family showed me so much love, and it was love that lifted me when nothing else would do,” she said. “I just will always cherish that in my heart.”
The mailroom clerk, Nadra Beshir, will become supervisor after Tuck retires. She describes Beshir as a great teammate in running their successful mailroom. Going forward, Tuck hopes to spend time with her siblings, her daughter, her grandsons and her friends. “I have wonderful friends — all of them retired except me,” she said. She’s also hoping to go on a cruise this summer.
As she looks back, she gives credit to God for her 40 years in the mailroom. “God did it,” she said. “It was him that carried me and I believe that when I go into retirement, he’s going to still carry me.”
The chancery offices won’t be the same without Tuck, said Tim Cotnoir, the diocesan finance officer who has worked at the diocese for 20 years. Cotnoir recalls that whenever he would ask Tuck how she was doing that day, she would always give the same response — blessed. “She’s been a fixture here for a long, long time,” said Cotnoir. “It’s certainly going to be a different place without the contribution of Minnie everyday, especially her joyful and happy presence.”
Maraist is a freelancer from Reston.
