Supercentenarian Profile

Loretta Olsen

Born:

1902-09-06

New York City, New York

United States

Died:

2012-09-25

Norwalk, Connecticut

United States

Loretta Olsen (née Miller) was an American supercentenarian.

BIOGRAPHY

Loretta Olsen was born in the neighborhood of College Point in the New York City borough of Queens, on 6 September 1902. Her parents were August Miller (1859–1931) and Emma A. Horn (1864–1943). She had three brothers. When she was younger, she loved to dance. After her father’s death, Loretta’s family moved to Stamford, and she later joined cousins in South Norwalk, where she lived with her mother.

On 6 October 1924, she married Henry E. Olsen (1899–1991). Before—and for a short time after—their marriage, she worked at the shirt manufacturer Cluett, Peabody & Company. Her husband was employed by Nash Engineering. She later returned briefly to Cluett to fill in and earn some extra money.

After living on her own for some time following her husband’s death, she moved in 1999 to Westport to live with her daughter Muriel. At age 109, her daughter, Muriel Durner (1927–2024), said her mother’s memory could be strikingly vivid when prompted, though at times it was uneven. She maintained a good appetite and required very little medication.

Loretta Olsen passed away in Norwalk, Connecticut, on 25 September 2012, at the age of 110 years, 19 days.