Supercentenarian Profile

Lilian Cornell

Born:

1904-08-21

Leverton, Lincolnshire, England

United Kingdom

Died:

2016-01-11

North Battleford, Saskatchewan

Canada

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Doris Lilian Cornell (née Wilson) was a British-born Canadian supercentenarian.

BIOGRAPHY

Lilian Cornell was born in Leverton, Lincolnshire, England, on 21 August 1904. She was born to William Wilson and Gertrude Goddard. In 1912, when she was eight years old, her family immigrated to Canada. She recalled that the week-long voyage made them a little nervous. Although their ship was scheduled to dock in Montreal, bad weather forced a detour to New York. From there, they endured a long train journey to reach Montreal.

Lilian’s father filed a homestead claim south of Dafoe, near Wynyard. While the claim was being processed, the family—Lilian, her parents, and her sister—lived in a boarding house that was considered quite luxurious for the time. It had five rooms, including two bedrooms, and a large barnyard full of animals. When Lilian was just 14, her mother fell seriously ill and died from a ruptured appendix at the age of 47.

Lilian attended Foote School, a one-room schoolhouse that offered Grades 1 through 9. In 1921, after completing her public schooling, she was accepted into the nursing program at Saskatoon City Hospital. Upon completing her training, she became a nurse, often accompanying a doctor to care for patients in their homes.

Lilian met her future husband, Howard Cornell, at the age of 22 through mutual friends. At the time, Howard was working as a station agent for the Canadian National Railway, a role that required him to travel to various towns across Saskatchewan.

The couple married in 1929 and welcomed their only child, a daughter named Lou, in Domremy. Their next move took them to Meota, where Howard had been appointed station agent. They made Meota their home for 18 years. During that time, her skills as a nurse quickly became valued within the community, and she often assisted residents with their health needs. After nearly two decades in Meota, the family relocated to North Battleford, where Howard built a house for them. He passed away in the 1940s.

Lilian Cornell passed away in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, on 11 January 2016, at the age of 111 years, 143 days. She was survived by her daughter, Lou Elaine Tait, five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

On 13 November 2015, following the passing of Marguerite Wabano, she became the oldest known living person in Canada. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Ellen Gibb.

Her age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 12 December 2015. The validation was later recognized by LongeviQuest.