BIOGRAPHY

Svehaug was born as Laura Hansine Jørgensdatter in Svedhaug, Vestlandet, Norway, on 19 November 1886 as the daughter of Jørgen Torbjørnsen and Ingeborg Jakobsdatter. She had at least four siblings: Oline, Jørgine, Ingebrigt, and Ola.

For most of her working life, Svehaug’s occupation was a servant in Bergen, Vestlandet. She never married; after patronymic names were stopped in Norway, some chose surnames based on local places. It is believed that the surname ‘Svehaug’ originates from her birthplace of Svedhaug.

Svehaug died in Bergen on 6 March 1998 at the age of 111 years, 107 days.

RECOGNITION

Following the death of 109-year-old Ella Hagen on 29 October 1994, Svehaug became Norway’s oldest living resident. Upon her own death over three years later, the title passed to 108-year-old Amund Vermedal.

At the time of her death, Svehaug was the third-oldest person ever to die in Norway. As of 2024, she is the fourth-oldest after Elisabeth Ekenæs surpassed her age in 2016.

Svehaug’s age was verified by Dag Hoelseth and Louis Epstein (GRG), as well as Chris Law and Jimmy Lindberg (ESO), and was validated by the latter organisation on 28 March 2021.

ATTRIBUTION

• Laura (111) er død VG

GALLERY