BIOGRAPHY

Galode was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, on 22 August 1882. At some point in her youth, she moved to the Channel Islands (UK) with her family. She returned to Canada in 1908.

At the age of 26, she married Jack Galode. The couple had one daughter, Frances. She spent most of her life in Hamilton, where she operated a variety store with her husband. They retired in 1948. Her husband passed away in 1952. Her daughter passed away in 1990, at the age of 76.

At the age of 107, she was taking a bus on her own for grocery shopping. In August 1993, shortly before her 111th birthday, she moved into Hillsdale Manor nursing home in Oshawa, after years of living in her Hamilton bungalow. At the age of 112, she was using a walker to move around the nursing home.

Galode passed away of pneumonia at Whitby General Hospital in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, on 9 September 1994, at the age of 112 years, 18 days. She was survived by two grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

On 2 November 1992, at the age of 110 years, 72 days, she surpassed the final age of Bessie French, thereby succeeding her as the new record holder for the oldest person ever born in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. She held the title until 26 October 1997, when Clara Mackenzie surpassed her final age.

At the time of death, she was the third-oldest living person in Canada, behind Marie-Louise Meilleur and Mary Ann Rhodes, both from Ontario.

Her age was verified by Stefan Maglov and Jimmy Lindberg, and validated by LongeviQuest on 29 November 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Happy birthday! Emma’s 110 today” – The Toronto Star, 22 August 1992

* “Canada’s eldest woman says smarts must be self-taught” – The Expositor, 24 August 1993

* “Oshawa resident still hale at age 112” – The Toronto Star, 22 August 1994

* “At 112, Emma ‘ready’ to die” – Times Colonist, 13 September 1994

GALLERY