Doris Noreen, the oldest living person in the U.S. state of Illinois, celebrated her 113th birthday in Rockford.
Noreen was born in Rockford, Illinois, USA, on 15 September 1913, to parents John Nygren and Mary Hurd. She attended Rock River School in Rockford for seven years, and then moved to Turner School for 8th grade.
In 1942, she married Carroll Noreen. She worked at National Lock in Rockford from 1933 to 1943 but left when she became pregnant with her first daughter. Six years after their marriage, her husband passed away due to a heart condition, leaving her to raise their two daughters, Sheryl and Beverly, on her own. She moved back in with her parents, who provided support in raising their granddaughters while Noreen worked. She found a job at the Barber-Colman factory, a manufacturer of textile and milling machinery, and remained there for 29 years until her retirement in 1978.
When asked about the secret to her longevity, she attributed it to a healthy diet and regular exercise.
On 1 November 2025, following the death of 113-year-old Wenonah Bish, she became the oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Illinois.
LongeviQuest extends warm congratulations to Doris Noreen on her 113th birthday.
