Agnes Boström

BIOGRAPHY

Agnes Boström was born as Agnes Cecilia Eriksson in the village of Tarasjönäs, near Ramsele, Västernorrland County, Sweden, on 29 April 1912, the fifth child of eight children of Erik-Petter and Anna-Märta Abrahamsson. Her mother lived to be 98. Although she was just a few years old when World War I broke out, she remembered her father being drafted. After elementary school, she worked as a maid before taking a job at a hotel in Ramsele and later in Sollefteå. She also worked as a waitress at Näsgården, located just outside Härnösand, for three years (1934–37).

At some point, she married the carpenter Gottfrid Boström. In 1940, they bought a farm in Ramsås, where she dedicated herself to caring for her home and family while managing the farm. They had a son together. In 1969, she became a widow after her husband passed away following an accident a few years earlier, and in 1993, her son Stig died in a traffic accident. In the 1980s, she moved to Älandsbro. She had many interests and hobbies, including reading and doing crossword puzzles. In her 90s, she also participated in various activities organized by the pensioners’ association, such as qigong, gymnastics, and cooking.

At the age of 109, she remained fairly independent. She still handled cleaning, washing windows, cooking, and many other tasks around her apartment. She even did her own grocery shopping and occasionally helped a neighbor with small chores. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she didn’t attribute it to any particular method, saying, “I think it depends on the genes. Mom lived to be 98 and she was almost never sick. I also have my joy for life to thank for being able to keep going this long.” She added that she always enjoyed simple, home-cooked meals, preferring them because she knew they contained no harmful additives.

Boström passed away in Älandsbro, Västernorrland County, Sweden, on 16 November 2024, at the age of 112 years, 201 days.

RECOGNITION

On 9 April 2022, following the passing of 112-year-old Flarid Lagerlund, she became the oldest living Swedish-born person, at the age of 109 years, 345 days.

Her age was verified by Stefan Maglov, and validated by LongeviQuest on 3 February 2023. Her age was previously verified by Jimmy Lindberg and validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO).

On 16 October 2024, following the passing of 112-year-old Gunborg Hancock, she became the oldest living person in Sweden, as well as the oldest living person in the Nordic countries, at the age of 112 years, 170 days.

On 26 October 2024, at the age of 112 years, 180 days, she surpassed Hancock’s final age, becoming the second-oldest person ever to have lived or died in Sweden, only after Astrid Zachrison, who died on her 113th birthday in 2008.