1908 Archives

LongeviQuest is saddened to report the passing of Hazel Plummer. She was born on 19 June 1908 in Somerville, Massachusetts, United States, and died on 25 May 2023 died in Littleton, Massachusetts, USA at the age of 114 years, 340 days. At the time of her death, Plummer was the oldest known person living in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the world’s 6th oldest living validated person (behind María Branyas Morera, Fusa Tatsumi, Edie Ceccarelli, Tomiko Itooka, and Inah Canabarro Lucas).

Plummer in August 2022, at the age of 114.

During her early years, Plummer went to trade school to become a seamstress. She then worked for an upscale designer on Newbury Street in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1935, she married her husband Elmer Plummer and they had at least two children (sons). At the time of her 110th birthday in June 2018, Plummer had six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Plummer became the oldest known living person in the state of Massachusetts following the death of 112-year-old Dorothy Brown on 26 November 2019. In January 2020, her nursing home celebrated her achievement with a special party where she received a message from Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

LongeviQuest is extending our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends of Mrs. Hazel Plummer.

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.