BIOGRAPHY

Noreen was born in Rockford, Illinois, USA, on 15 September 1913. Her parents were John Nygren and Mary Hurd. She had three brothers: Julius, Raymond, and Burdette, and three sisters: Marion, Tekla, and Mabel Irene Carlson (1923–2012). 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.

Her mother and father died two months apart in 1968. At the age of 98, she moved into a continuing care retirement community. Even as a centenarian, she was still attending First Evangelical Covenant Church. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she attributed it to a healthy diet and regular exercise.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Okiku S. and Stefan Maglov, and validated by LongeviQuest on 8 October 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Obituary information for Mabel I. Carlson” – Olsonfh.com

* “Doris Noreen is a 101-year resident of Rockford” – Rockford Register Star, 13 June 2015

* “Rockford native celebrates 107th birthday” – Rockford Register Star, 15 September 2020

* “‘Facebook blows my mind!’ Rockford woman celebrates 110th birthday” – Rockford Register Star, 29 September 2023

GALLERY