Lund was born as Ulla Valborg Vistisen in Sparkaer, Midtjylland, Denmark on 25 July 1907 as the third of eight children born to Knud and Anine (née Pedersen) Vistisen. Her favourite childhood memories include her father’s spurs scraping against the stairs, her mother making her clothes and cooking fantastic meals, and singing carols around the Christmas tree with her family.

In 1924, at the age of 16, Lund attended a party and met her future husband, Svend Erik Lund, and it was love at first sight. He emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts in 1925, and Lund followed shortly after. They were married in 1927 and had their only son, Peter, in 1937.

Lund became an official U.S. citizen in 1930, and voted in every US presidential election from 1932 until her death. She holidayed to Denmark with her husband in 1936, and again, this time including her son, in 1950. For many years, the Lunds rented an apartment in Arlington until they moved to Lexington, Massachusetts.

In 1942, during the height of World War II, after learning through the Red Cross that her family back in Denmark were safe, Lund began volunteering as a blood donor in appreciation of the Red Cross’ efforts. During the Great Depression, her husband went from house to house to clean gutters, and was later employed as a roofer. He died in 1976 of cancer after 49 years of marriage.

At the age of 103, Lund moved into Meadow Green Rehabilitation and Nursing Centre in Waltham, Massachusetts, as per the advice of her physician. She enjoyed doing crossword puzzles with her son Peter, who said she usually beat him. He also reported that his mother used to bake more than 500 Danish cookies every Christmas for her neighbours. She abstained from alcohol, and did not inhale cigarette smoke.

A few days before her 110th birthday, Lund celebrated with over 20 family members, some travelling from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii to attend the party. At the time, she had five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She died on 23 August 2017 at the age of 110 years, 29 days.

Biography partially sourced from Gerontology Wiki