Ellen Gibb

BIOGRAPHY

Ellen Gibb was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on 26 April 1905. Ellen was born to Virginie “Virginia” Bouvette (1870–1910), a woman of Métis heritage who died shortly after giving birth to Ellen’s younger sister when Ellen was just five years old. Her father, John Box (1859–1934)—a Scottish-Canadian prospector who spent much of his working life chasing fortune during the Klondike Gold Rush—continued raising the family. He received help from Ellen’s older sister, Nora, and Virginia’s sister, as they all lived together on a small farm in St. Vital, now part of Winnipeg.

Nicknamed “Dolly” in her late teens for her stylish fashion sense, she worked at Eaton’s in Winnipeg, where she designed and crafted fashion accessories, including ribbon flowers. In 1928, she married Dave Gibb and was required to leave Eaton’s, as the company did not knowingly employ married women at the time. Her first daughter, Eleanor, was born in 1929, followed by her second daughter, Sue, in 1939.

Dave, a skilled metalsmith, worked for the railways in Winnipeg. In 1941, the family relocated to the Westfort area of Fort William (now part of Thunder Bay), where he joined the war effort by working at Canada Car, building airplanes. She was a devoted homemaker, an excellent cook and seamstress, and remained very close to both of her daughters.

Her husband passed away in 1968 at the age of 62. She continued to live independently in her modest 425-square-foot, two-bedroom home until her 100th birthday.

After Dave’s passing, she found companionship for many years with family friend Herb Weinberg, who had also lost his wife. An avid bingo player, she eagerly joined her daughter Eleanor Duggan on numerous trips to Reno, Nevada, where they shared a love for the game. Tragically, Eleanor passed away in 1991. In 2005, Dolly moved to North Bay to live with her daughter Sue and son-in-law Dave. Following Dave’s death in 2007, Dolly continued to live with Sue, thanks to Sue’s dedication and the ongoing support of granddaughter Jane Wilkinson and her family.

Ellen Gibb passed away in North Bay, Ontario, on 5 June 2019, at the age of 114 years, 40 days. She was survived by her daughter Sue Crozier, her 9 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

On 13 November 2015, following the passing of Marguerite Wabano, she became the oldest known living person in Ontario.

On 11 January 2016, following the passing of Lilian Cornell, she became the oldest known living person in Canada, at the age of 110 years, 260 days. She held the title for over three years, until her own passing in June 2019, when she was succeeded by Sarah Patenaude-Bruyère.

Her age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 4 April 2017. This validation was later recognized by LongeviQuest.

In April 2019, she celebrated her 114th birthday, becoming the first Canadian to reach that age since Julie Winnefred Bertrand in September 2005.

ATTRIBUTION

* Ellen Susan “Dolly” Box Gibb – Find A Grave

* “Local woman celebrates 110th birthday, top five in Canada” – BayToday.ca, 27 April 2015

* Ellen “Dolly” Gibb Obituary – McGuinty Funeral Home Limited (North Bay)

GALLERY

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