Margaret Romans

BIOGRAPHY

Romans was born in Riga, Latvia (then Russian Empire), on 16 March 1912.

In 1941, she married Heinrich Romans, having a small wedding due to the war and Latvia’s occupation by the Soviet Union. Shortly after their wedding, the couple were forced to flee from Latvia. They lived in Germany for a few years before emigrating to Canada in 1947. Romans claimed that Canada’s landscape was similar to that of Latvia’s. The couple did not have any children of their own.

Romans worked as an art teacher at the YMCA, where she taught ceramics and painting for many years. Her husband was employed as an engineer. She kept in touch with her former students throughout her life, as well as teaching multiple generations of the same families. She enjoyed travelling, visiting places such as Italy, Berlin and Paris.

Romans was widowed in 2002, and lived independently in Westmount, Quebec until the age of 107, when she moved into a nursing home in Sainte-Geneviève, a municipality of Montreal. She decorated her room with her own artwork depicting women in traditional Latvian dresses and the view from her window in Germany.

RECOGNITION

Romans was first noted for her longevity when an article was published by the Montreal Gazette the day before her 111th birthday.

On 8 April 2024, following the passing of Annette Sabourin Brunet, she became the oldest (known) living person in the Province of Quebec.

Her age was verified by Stefan Maglov and James Roberts, and validated by LongeviQuest on 21 June 2024.

On 3 January 2025, following the passing of 112-year-old Hazel Skuce, she became the oldest (known) living person in Canada, at the age of 112 years, 293 days.

ATTRIBUTION

* “A Montreal woman has celebrated her 111th birthday. Here are her words of wisdom” – Global News, 16 March 2023

* “Margaret Romans: 111 years young” – Montreal West, April 2023

GALLERY

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