2017 Archives

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 delighted to share the age validation of Dorothy Hunter at 110 years old. She was an American supercentenarian born on 31 July 1907 in Tower Grove South, St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

She was playing tennis as a hobby while growing up and would even attend turnverein classes twice a week. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in Harris Teachers College for a few years before graduating from Washington University. Her career started by teaching sixth grade students for a decade. After this, she spent most of her career teaching third grade students at Robinson Elementary School in the Kirkwood School District.

With her husband in the 1930s.
(Source: St. Louis Today)

She married her husband, Harry Hunter, whom she met at a voice studio on 4 January 1930. The couple then had only one daughter whom she would outlive.

Dorothy remained active and healthy despite her old age. At 102 years old, she can still drive her car and keep up with her friends through email. At age 110, she was still able to get up from her wheelchair and then walk to the dining table every day.

Dorothy Hunter passed away on 22 September 2017 in West County, St., Louis, Missouri, USA. She was 110 years and 53 days old at the time of her death.

For more information, please view Dorothy Hunter’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 Beulah Evelyn “Lynn” Balmer of the United States at age 110. She was born in Plumas County, California, United States on 12 September 1907. She was the eldest of nine siblings.

Balmer graduated from Chico High School in 1924 and Chico State Teacher’s College in 1927. She then taught school in Susanville for four years before attending the University of California, Berkeley. Balmer taught at Albany High School, where she was head of the mathematics department. Balmer also served as an officer in the US Coast Guard during World War II. She used her mathematical skills to read and interpret weather maps and charts, and she used Morse code to help ships navigate through dangerous waters and adverse weather conditions between the United States and England. She attained the rank of Lieutenant during her service.

After the war, Balmer was sent to Seattle, Washington, where she met and married her husband. Balmer continued her teaching career in Seattle, eventually retiring in 1967. While in Seattle, Balmer became interested in ice skating and soon became a skilled ice skater and qualified for the U.S. Figure Skating Association’s Bronze Award in Ice Dancing. She qualified for the Olympics but decided not to participate.

(Source: Chico Enterprise-Record)

Balmer spent her retirement writing and publishing books about her family’s history. In September 2014, on her 107th birthday, Chico State’s President, Paul Zingg, visited her and presented her with an award for being the oldest living California State University alumnus. Balmer passed away in Chico, Butte County, California, USA, on 9 December 2017, at the age of 110 years, 88 days. She was survived by three sisters.

LongeviQuest congratulates Beulah Balmer’s family on her posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Balmer’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 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.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Mamie Tarver at 110 years old. She was an American supercentenarian whose age has been validated by LQ.

Tarver was born as Mamie Mae Murphy on 18 April 1907, in Abbeville, Henry County, Alabama, USA. Franklin Murphy, her father, was of African American descent, and her mother, Nancy Murphy, was white. She had four siblings when her family moved to Newark, New Jersey when she was just eight years old.

When she was 15 years old, she married Peter Tarver on 30 May 1922. The couple had a total of nine children comprised of six sons and three daughters.

In July 2017, aged 110.
(Source: NJ.com)

Mrs. Tarver worked as a domestic worker and a caterer. In 1955, the Ladies’ Home Companion magazine featured Mrs. Tarver for her hors d’oeuvres.

At the age of 110 years old, Mamie Tarver passed away on 19 December 2017, in Cranford, New Jersey, USA.

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

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Melissa Traylor of the United States at 111 years. She was born in Mina, Chautauqua County, New York, United States on 6 February 1906, and passed away in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States on 18 August 2017. Traylor grew up on a farm that straddled the Pennsylvania-New York State border.

Undated.
(Source: The Post-Journal)

At 18, she moved to Detroit and she pursued an education in cosmetology. She then established herself as a hairdresser for about 30 years, eventually owning her own salon. Mrs. Traylor met her husband Hoy Crittendon Traylor (1898–1975) at the Pier Ballroom, whom she married in 1927. The couple retired in the 1960s and moved to Florida where she stayed until 2006 after both of her sisters passed away. She decided to return to Erie County, New York, where her brother and many nieces and nephews lived.

LongeviQuest congratulates Melissa Traylor’s family on her posthumous recognition.

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

LongeviQuest is glad to announce the age validation of Florence Middleman at 110 years old. She was a Canadian supercentenarian considered as the oldest living person in the province of Alberta. Florence was also the oldest living Jewish woman in Canada.

Middleman was born on 13 August 1906 in Daysland, Alberta, Canada to parents Max Goldberg (1870-1943) and Mollie Goldberg (1876-1850) whom she had four brothers with.

With her brothers.
(Source: The Community Press)

The family moved to Edmonton, Alberta in 1925. At some point, she married Harry Moe Middleman. The couple settled in Calgary and they only had one daughter.

Mrs. Middleman worked as a librarian at an elementary school until she retired at the age of 68 years old.

Florence Middleman passed away in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on 3 February 2017. At this point, she was already 110 years, 174 days old.

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

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Tōichi Sasaki of Japan. He was born in Kiyotaki Village, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan on 4 September 1905, and passed away in Ōsaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan on 20 April 2017 at the age of 111. He was the second-oldest living man in Japan at the time of his death.

Mr. Sasaki worked in agriculture. At the age of 29, he married a woman named Shigeko. They had two sons and six daughters. As of 2005, he had 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and he lived with his eldest son. At the age of 100, his legs were not so strong anymore, but his eyesight and hearing remained good. He attributed his longevity to taking Chinese medicine for 30 years, and how he was always in bed by 6 PM. He also enjoyed spending time each day drinking tea, chatting, and watching his favorite period dramas on television.

In 2011, likely following the passing of 106-year-old Inao Chiba (Japanese: 千葉稲男) of Tome on February 19, he became the oldest living man in Miyagi Prefecture. Some time at the age of 107, he became the oldest man to ever live in Miyagi Prefecture. In September 2015, he celebrated his 110th birthday, becoming the first male supercentenarian in Miyagi Prefecture.

At the age of 110.
(Source: o-seishinkai.sakura.ne.jp)

On 29 October 2016, following the death of Japan’s oldest living man of the time, Masamitsu Yoshida of Tokyo, he became the second-oldest living man in Japan, after Masazo Nonaka.

LongeviQuest congratulates Mr. Sasaki’s family on his posthumous recognition.

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