BIOGRAPHY

Sophie Hules was born in Konca Vas, Southeast Slovenia, which was then part of Austria-Hungary, on 14 June 1909. Her parents had traveled from their home in New York for a family gathering, but they were unable to return to the United States due to a combination of civil unrest, military conflict, and, ultimately, the outbreak of World War I. It wasn’t until 1920, when Sophie was eleven years old, that she and her family were able to return to the U.S. They traveled aboard the steamship The Presidente Wilson, which had been built in 1912 and named after Woodrow Wilson, the American president during WWI. Along with her father Josef, her mother Gertrude, her sisters Rose and Louise, and her two brothers Josef and William, she left the farm they had been living on to board The Presidente Wilson for its first voyage to America after the war. They entered the U.S. through Ellis Island, and eventually settled in Cleveland, Ohio.

Hules and her younger sister Louise, who was four years younger and also born on 14 June, attended school together to learn English. After six years of schooling, Sophie found work as a long-distance telephone operator. She met James Hules, a florist seven years her senior, and just six days before her 20th birthday, the couple got married. Nine years later, they moved to California, where Sophie worked the night shift as an operator for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company. During World War II, James worked as a government contractor, painting blackout windows to prevent enemy aircraft from spotting lights in homes. Sophie and Jim bought a house in South Pasadena, where they raised three children: Carol, Jim, and Susan.

Hules continued working as a telephone operator, initially taking the Red Line to work before learning to drive herself. She also enjoyed driving to the beach and regularly spent her vacations at Balboa Island or on Catalina Island. She retired from the phone company in 1966 and continued to drive until the age of 94. After her retirement, Sophie became actively involved in senior citizen groups and traveled extensively. Jim eventually fell ill, and Sophie cared for him until his passing in 1983. She continued to travel, visiting places like Hawaii, Paris, and the South of France. Sophie lived in the home she and Jim had shared in South Pasadena, tending to their gardens, until after she turned 100. At that point, she moved into the British Home in Sierra Madre.

At the age of 104, she had five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.

Sophie Hules passed away in Sierra Madre, Los Angeles County, California, USA, on 15 October 2020, at the age of 111 years, 123 days.

RECOGNITION

On 17 April 2020, at the age of 110 years, 308 days, she surpassed the final age of Katarina Marinič, becoming the oldest Slovenian-born person ever. She later also became the first Slovenian-born person to celebrate 111th birthday. She held the title until 29 February 2024, when Julijana Zakrajšek surpassed her final age.

Hules’ age was verified by Dr. Andrew Holmes and validated by the ESO on 22 September 2021.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Sophie Hules Turns 104 at the British Home” – Sierra Madre News, 21 June 2013

GALLERY