Kirsten Schwalbe, a resident of Struer, Midtjylland, reached the age of 112 years and 218 days today, setting a new national longevity record for Denmark.
Schwalbe was born in Struer, Midtjylland, Denmark on 10 March 1914 as one of six children. At 12 years old, she started work as a nanny for a local farming family, where she learned to cook, clean, and the art of housekeeping. Her mother died aged 49. At the age of 15, Schwalbe moved to Holstebro to work as a housekeeper. The neighbour’s son would later become her husband in 1938; the couple had three daughters. Schwalbe returned to her hometown of Struer in 1945, bringing her family with her. Her first experience in drinking beer was not until the age of 70, after being convinced to taste it by her son-in-law.
Schwalbe was widowed in 1981. She had worked as a seamstress, and enjoyed needlework even after her retirement. She continued knitting into her centenarian years. Until the age of 100 when she started using a walker, she could walk with no assistance.
On 4 April 2024, Schwalbe became the oldest living resident of Denmark, following the passing of 110-year-old Karen Moritz.
Denmark’s previous longevity record was held by Karla Lindholm Jensen (7 May 1908 – 10 December 2020), who died at the age of 112 years and 217 days. Schwalbe reached the same age yesterday and surpassed Jensen’s record today, 14 October.
However, the record for the oldest person ever born in Denmark remains held by Danish-born emigrant Christian Mortensen, who died in California, USA, in 1998 at the age of 115 years and 252 days. He also formerly held the title of the world’s oldest man.
