LongeviQuest is delighted to announce that Edie Ceccarelli has become the oldest person ever from California, USA, at 115 years old.
Edie Ceccarelli was born on 5 February 1908 in Willits, California, USA. In 1927, she graduated from Willits Union High School.
She was married to Elmer “Brick” Keenan and the couple moved to Santa Rosa, California. Her husband worked as a pressman for the Santa Rosa Democrat.
On her 114th birthday. source: Gerontology Wiki
Ceccarelli is currently residing in Willits, California, USA. She was living in her own home until she was 107 years old. After that, she moved into a senior living facility.
On 16 October 2023, Edie Ceccarelli became the oldest person to have ever lived in California, USA. This is after she surpassed the final age of Christian Mortensen, at the age of 115 years and 253 days.
For more information, please visit Edie Ceccarelli’s Directory Profile here.
LongeviQuest recently reviewed the case of Maud Farris-Luse of the United States– a previously validated supercentenarian who held the title of the world’s oldest living person at the time of her passing.
On 6 June 2001, the Gerontology Research Group validated her birthdate as 21 January 1887, which was her claimed birthdate. However, in August 2023, after reviewing documentation discovered by Jimmy Lindberg, the Global Validation Commission reached the conclusion that Farris-Luse was a month younger, born on February 21, 1887. Therefore, her final age was not 115 years, 56 days, but 115 years, 25 days.
Farris-Luse held the record of being the oldest person to pass away in the U.S. state of Michigan until June 18, 2014, when her final age was surpassed by Jeralean Talley.
For more information, please view Farris-Luse’s Directory Profile here.
LongeviQuest is pleased to confirm that Tomiko Itooka [Japanese: 糸岡富子] recently celebrated her birthday on 23 May 2023 at the age of 115 years old. Mrs. Itooka is the world’s fourth oldest validated living person (behind María Branyas Morera, Fusa Tatsumi, and Edie Ceccarelli), the second oldest validated living person in Japan (behind the Fusa Tatsumi), and the oldest known living person in Hyogo Prefecture.
Tomiko Itooka’s 115th Birthday
Congratulatory flowers sent by her grandson (Source: chikusakai.jp)
She celebrated her 115th Birthday in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan in the company of her family and friends. LongeviQuest had sent her congratulatory flowers alongside different messages and greetings from various people around the world who wishes her well. She was also visited by the Mayor of Ashiya to celebrate with her and provide his message.
From left to right: Mrs. Itooka’s son, Tomiko Itooka, and the Mayor of Ashiya (Source: chikusakai.jp)
Tomiko Itooka’s Biography
Mrs. Itooka was born in Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan on 23 May 1908 as the second (eldest daughter) of three siblings. In 1928, she got married to her husband who ran a textile factory in South Korea. They had two daughters and two sons. During World War II, she took over the textile factory, protected a Japanese office, and raised her children by herself.
After her husband died in 1979, she lived alone in her husband’s hometown of Nara Prefecture for about 10 years. During that period, she frequently enjoyed climbing Mt. Nijo, which straddles Nara and Osaka prefectures. She also climbed Mt. Ontake (elevation 3000m), which straddles Nagano and Gifu prefectures, twice. The guide was surprised when she climbed the mountain because she wore ordinary sneakers instead of hiking shoes.
When she was in her 80s, she also participated in the Osaka 33 Kannon Pilgrimage (33 temple pilgrimages) twice. At 100 years old, she climbed the long stone steps of Ashiya Shrine without a cane and worshiped. She often visited the Yakushiji Temple in Nara Prefecture and enjoyed writing sutras.
For more information, please view Tomiko Itooka’s Directory Profile here.
