Lisette Otti, the oldest living person in Estonia, passed away in Tartu on 27 October, at the age of 107 years, 286 days. Her passing was first reported by Tartu Postimees.
Lisette Otti was born in Toovere, near Palamuse, on 14 January 1918. Her parents, who had married in Tartu, had fled there to escape the turmoil of World War I. At the time of her birth, Lisette’s father had been mobilized to fight in the Estonian War of Independence. Lisette attended Palamuse School, where she excelled in art, later studying for a year at the Pallas Art School in Tartu. When the Soviet occupation loomed, she left, foreseeing uncertain times and the need for stability. She then enrolled in the Tartu Women’s Vocational School, where she perfected her skills in various handicrafts.
Lisette had only one child—a daughter named Ina. She never married, as her partner disappeared during the war, and she raised her daughter on her own. By the age of 100, Lisette had two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.
Following the passing of 107-year-old Larissa Sipitsyna (18 June 1917 – 7 August 2024), she became the nation’s oldest known living resident.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Lisette Otti during this difficult time.
