1906 Archives

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of William Sheetz of the United States at age 110. He was born in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, United States on 17 May 1906 to German-born parents. His family later moved to Harrisburg. Sheetz was a brother to 6 siblings, a husband, and a father to one daughter.

On his 109th birthday.
(Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune)

During World War II, he worked at the Mechanicsburg Naval Supply Depot and developed an automatic railroad stop system that was later patented. Following his retirement, he and his wife took up raising and exhibiting West Highland Terriers. Sheetz was a board member of the Harrisburg Kennel Club and also belonged to the Progress Church of God. Remarkably, he was still driving at the age of 100.

Sheetz passed away in Englewood, Florida, USA, on 28 May 2016, at the age of 110 years, 11 days. He was survived by his daughter, three grandchildren, four great-grandsons, and one great-great-granddaughter.

LongeviQuest congratulates William Sheetz’s family on his posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Sheetz’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is delighted to announce the age validation of Marie Willan of the United States at age 110. She was born in Wadena, Wadena County, Minnesota, United States on 29 April 1906. Her father was German, and her maternal grandparents were Austrian. She had eight younger siblings.

Willan went to St. Ann’s Catholic School, where she lived with the Benedictine nuns at their convent during the winter. When she was old enough to attend high school, her help was needed on the family farm. She eventually finished her education at the Beauty School in Chicago. On 10 May 1927, Willan got married, and the couple had one son. The family lived on the outskirts of Wadena for many years before moving into town in the 1960s. She worked as a seamstress at the Wadena Singer Sewing Center. Willan got married to her second husband on 2 April 1984.

(Source: Detroit Lakes Tribune)

In 2007, at 101, she received an honorary high school diploma from Wadena-Deer Creek High School. In 2009, she was the Wadena June Jubilee Parade Grand Marshal.

Willan passed away in Wadena, Wadena County, Minnesota, USA, on 25 November 2016, at the age of 110. She was survived by her son, 6 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great-grandchildren, and one brother, Herbert Nicholas (1924–2019).

LongeviQuest congratulates Marie Willan’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Willan’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Evelyn Vigor at 110 years old. She was an Australian supercentenarian who was the oldest living person in the state of Queensland at the time of her death.

Evelyn Vigor was born on 9 January 1906 in Laidley, Queensland, Australia. She was born prematurely that her doctor wrapped her in cotton wool and placed her in a box before telling her parents to “hope for the best.”

On her wedding day in 1931.
(Source: ABC News)

She was 23 years old when she met her future husband James Edward Vigor whom she married two years later exactly on 28 November 1931. The couple had three children together and the family engaged in farming in Memerambi.

In her 90s, she was able to recover from two separate fractured hips and overcame breast cancer at 102 years old.

Evelyn Vigor passed away on 26 April 2016 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was 110 years old at the time of her death, making her the fourth-oldest living person in the country.

For more information, please view Evelyn Vigor’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Helen Chamberlain at 111 years old. She was an American supercentenarian who was among the oldest living residents of Pennsylvania at the time of her death.

Helen Chamberlain was born on 16 January 1906 in Weatherly, Pennsylvania, USA.

She recalled that one of her earliest memories dates back to 1912 when she was only six years old upon hearing over the radio the sinking of the Titanic.

After graduating from high school, she studied nursing at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. She would later work there as a nurse for six years before coming back to Weatherly, Pennsylvania. Upon returning to her hometown, she worked for a physician in a private practice as a nurse.

Aged 109, with State Senator Stewart Greenleaf.
(Source: Acts Retirement-Life Communities)

Helen reportedly attributed her longevity to never getting married nor having children. In her 109^th birthday in 2015, she was visited by the then-Pennsylvania State Senator Stewart Greenleaf. She was presented with a plaque at that time congratulating her on her longevity.

Helen Chamberlain passed away on 25 February 2017 in Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, USA. She was 111 years and 40 days old at the time of her death.

For more information, please view Helen Chamberlain’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Isabelle Descôteaux at 110 years old. She was known as Sister Isabelle, a Canadian supercentenarian considered as the oldest living nun in Canada at the time of her death.

Sister Isabelle was born on 18 November 1906 in Sainte-Monique, Quebec, Canada.

She committed her life to Roman Catholic faith by entering the convent of Roman Catholic Assumption Sisters (French: Sœurs de l’Assomption). She joined in August 1933 when she was 26 years old. For decades, Sister Isabelle taught English and music with predilection to singing.

On her 110th birthday.
(Source: Le Nouvelliste)

She was the second oldest nun in her convent after Judith Pinard (1898-2009). At the time of her death, she became the oldest living nun in Canada and the third-oldest nun in the country.

Sister Isabelle Descoteaux passed away on 15 September 2017 in Nicolet, Quebec, Canada, when she was 110 years old.

For more information, please view Isabelle Descoteaux’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Cecy Ryff Leivas of Brazil at age 110. She was born in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil on 5 January 1906. Ryff Leivas was a wife and a mother to two children. At the age of 105, she said there’s no secret to her longevity.

(Source: Gerontology Wiki)

Ryff Leivas passed away in Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on 30 April 2016, at the age of 110 years, 116 days.

LongeviQuest congratulates Cecy Ryff Leivas’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Ryff Leivas’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Ichi Hatta of Japan. She was born in Isahaya, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan on 6 December 1906, and passed away in Isahaya on 7 May 2018 at the age of 111. At 97 years old, she was listed in the longevity ranking in Isahaya’s public relations paper.

On 22 February 2018, following the death of 111-year-old Kane Mori, she became the oldest living person in Nagasaki Prefecture.

Upon her death, Tsunahei Ogawa became the oldest person in Nagasaki Prefecture.

LongeviQuest congratulates Ichi Hatta’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Hatta’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Kameno Katō of Japan at age 111. She was born in Japan on 20 February 1906.

In 2005, aged 99.
(Source: Hikawa Town)

In September 2005, she was honored by the town of Hikawa as one of their few residents about to turn 100 years old. Katō was then featured in the Hikawa town public relations paper.

On 28 February 2017, following the death of Yoshiko Araki, she became the oldest living person in Shimane Prefecture.

She passed away in Hikawa District, Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, Japan, on 21 July 2017. At the time of death, she was the oldest living person in Shimane Prefecture.

LongeviQuest congratulates Kameno Katō’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Katō’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is delighted to announce the age validation of Mary Niceswanger at 111 years old. She was born on 6 August 1906, in Penn Township, Morgan County, Ohio, USA.

Niceswanger was born to Frederick Simpson McInturf (1880-1957) and Carrie Esther Moody (1884-1969) and she grew up with her 11 siblings.

The family was living on a farm where her father raised cattle, chickens, pigs, and sheep. Mary even had a pet pig named Faye. Mary and her family always celebrated her birthday on 2 August, but they later found out that her birth certificate states that her birthday was originally 6 August.

On her 111th birthday in 2017.
(Source: The News Centre)

On 26 November 1933, she married Leonard Niceswanger whom she had one daughter with.

Her husband died on 20 November 1971 while her daughter passed away in 2010.

Mary Niceswanger passed away on 25 January 2018, in Marietta, Ohio, USA. She was survived by her son-in-law, two grandsons, two great-granddaughters, and a step-great-grandson.

For more information, please view Mary Niceswanger’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Violet Greene of the United States at age 111 years. She was born in Hillsboro, Ohio, United States on 4 June 1906 and passed away in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, on 1 September 2017.

On her 110th birthday.
(Source: WKRQ)

Mrs. Greene was a seamstress and worked in a pants factory in New York for some time. In July 1934, she got married and eventually had one daughter.

LongeviQuest congratulates Violete Greene’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Mrs. Greene’s Directory Profile here.