Pennsylvania Archives

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Sabina Zieg of the United States at age 112. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States on 12 November 1872 to German immigrants. She was reported to be less than 5 feet tall. She was a member of Glenshaw Presbyterian Church since 1930 and a member of the ladies auxiliary of Undercliff Volunteer Fire Co.

Zieg worked part-time in the housekeeping department of Glenshaw Presbyterian Church before moving into a nursing home. At the age of 102, when asked about her ambition, she said she wanted to live to be 103. On her 108th birthday, she was interviewed on the television show “Good Morning, America.” When asked about the secret to her longevity, she said, “Well, I eat jelly-bread sandwiches. Smucker’s makes the best.”

On her 110th birthday in 1982.
(Source: The Pittsburgh Press)

On 30 April 1984, at the age of 111 years, 170 days, she surpassed the final age of Martha Brown (1858–1969), becoming the oldest person to ever live in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. She subsequently became the first person in the state to reach the age of 112. She held the title until her own final age was surpassed by Florence Knapp on 30 October 1985.

Zieg passed away of natural causes in the Presbyterian Home in Oakmont, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, on 1 December 1984. She was survived by two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Following her death, she was succeeded as Pennsylvania’s oldest living person by Ida Turner.

LongeviQuest congratulates Sabina Zieg’s family on her posthumous recognition.

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

LongeviQuest is delighted to announce that Idaho’s oldest known living person turned 111 years old. Sally Ashman’s family celebrated her milestone with a lobster dinner. She is currently the oldest known living person in the U.S. state of Idaho.

On her 110th birthday in 2022.
(Source: The Tribune-Democrat)

Sally Ashman was born into a prominent family in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on November 23, 1912. Her grandfather owned a significant portion of the land before development, and her father served as the first president of Johnstown Bank and Trust. Ashman excelled in her studies, graduating as valedictorian from both Cochran Junior High School and Johnstown High School. Her academic achievements continued at Bryn Mawr College, where she earned a cum laude degree in 1934.

Ashman got married in 1936, and the couple had three children. Her husband would later become the head administrator of Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital. While her husband dedicated his career to the medical facility, Ashman devoted many years to volunteering there.

Ashman remained independent until she turned 100. She lived in Florida full-time until 2012, when she relocated to Idaho Falls, Idaho, to live with her daughter.

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

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 pleased to announce the age validation of Mary Polilli at 110 years old. She was an American supercentenarian known as the oldest living person in Ohio, USA, at the time of her death.

Mary Polilli was born on 28 March 1906 in Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania, USA.

At some point in her life, she married Louis A. Polilli and had two children with him.

Undated.
(Source: Find A Grave)

Mary spent a lot of her dedication to the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dover while actively participating in the LCBA and Christian Mothers organizations. Moreover, she also spent 25 years being a volunteer for the Community Hospice of Tuscarawas County.

Mary Polilli passed away on 4 February 2017 in Dover, Ohio, USA, when she was 110 years old.

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

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Elizabeth Lucas at 111 years old. She was an American supercentenarian born on 6 April 1909 in Belle Vernon Pennsylvania, USA.

Her father was a coal miner while her mother was a mail-order bride. Elizabeth had ten siblings and the family lived in a two-story, two-bedroom frame house, where the children shared a single room.

Her school days ended after completing the sixth grade. When she was 13 years old, a priest would take her and the other girls from the area to work as cleaners for rich people in Pittsburgh. The Belle Vernon girls would return home via trolley every Friday and Elizabeth would give her small pay to her mother to help with the expenses.

At the age of 106.
(Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

On 12 February 1936, she was married to Walter Edward Lucas with whom she had three children with.

In 2005, she moved into a nursing home. Elizabeth Lucas passed away on 15 December 2020 in Steubenville, Ohio, USA, due to COVID-19.

For more information, please view Elizabeth Lucas’ Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Marie LeVan of the United States at age 111. She was born in Franklin Township, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States on 3 September 1908.

LeVan graduated from the University of Saint Joseph in 1936 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She went on to earn Master of Arts and Master of Education degrees from Trinity College and the University of Hartford, respectively. LeVan also pursued further graduate studies at the Southern University of Connecticut and the Gesell Institute in New Haven.

As a young woman.
(Source: Record-Journal)

LeVan was a dedicated educator who spent her career teaching a variety of subjects. This includes teaching English, French, Latin, American History, and Psychology. She also served as Dean of Girls, School Psychologist, and Director of Pupil Personnel in the Meriden School System. In 2016, she received recognition for her 70 years of active membership and leadership from Soroptimist International of the Americas, a service organization committed to improving the lives of women and girls. In 2018, she was recognized by the South Congregational Church as their longest-living member (having joined in 1924).

LeVan passed away in Meriden, Connecticut, USA, on 29 August 2019, five days shy of her 111th birthday.

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

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

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Sara Ashman at 110 years old. She is an American supercentenarian known as the current oldest living person in Idaho, USA.

Sara Ashman was born on 23 November 1912 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA.

Sara portrayed academic excellence by becoming a valedictorian in Cochran Junior High School and Johnstown High School. In 1934, she was also a Cum Laude graduate from Bryn Mawr College.

On her 110th birthday in 2022.
(Source: The Tribune-Democrat)

She met her future husband on the tennis court behind her house. In 1936, they were married and had three children together. Her husband became the head administrator of Conemaugh Valley Memorial Hospital, where Sara devoted many years to volunteering.

Sara Ashman lived independently until she was 100 years old. She is currently residing with her daughter in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

For more information, please visit Mrs. Ashman’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce that Bernice Sebastian, the oldest living Saint Kittian and Nevisian, has her age validated at 110 years old.

Bernice Rosalind Eugene Sebastian is an American supercentenarian born in Saint Kitts and Nevis on 21 September 1913.

Sebastian never married nor had any children. For a span of 9 years, from 1932 to 1941, she served as an assistant teacher at the Basseterre Boys’ School. In 1941, she became the Headmistress at the Dieppe Bay Infant (Primary) School. She managed the school for 25 years before moving to Irish Town School where she stayed until she retired in September 1969.

Undated.
(Source: Twitter/EmbassyKN_DC)

When Sebastian’s mother died, she left Saint Kitts to move to Nova Scotia, Canada, to live with her sister. For around 27 years of living in Canada, he later moved to Queens, New York. Five years later, he moved again to Barryville around 2005 and to Philadelphia finally in 2011. At the age of 100 years old, Bernice had a pacemaker implanted inside of her.

Bernice Sebastian is currently residing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

For more information, please visit Bernice Sebastian’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to share that Naomi Whitehead, the 5^th oldest living American, turns 113 years old. She is an American supercentenarian who is also recognized as the oldest living person in Pennsylvania, USA.

Naomi celebrated her 113^th birthday at St. Paul’s Senior Living Community in West Salem Township. During this time, she can still remember her early days with a little help from her grandchildren. “I was born on a Georgia Farm,” Whitehead said. “I picked cotton and tobacco.” She even remembered the horses on the farm which were still the main mode of transportation. She said, “I was afraid of getting kicked by them.”

Dan Whitehead talks with his grandmother, Namoi Whitehead, at St. Paul’s Senior Living Community in West Salem Township. She celebrated her 113th birthday on Tuesday.
Retrieved from: https://longevi.quest/46CLxzT

Naomi Whitehead was born on 26 September 1910 in Georgia, United States. She married Sylvester Whitehead and had three sons with him. Unfortunately, she outlived all of her children and when her last surviving son died in 2011, she resided in Sharon, Pennsylvania.

She is currently living at St. Paul’s Senior Living Community in Greenville, Pennsylvania, USA.

LongeviQuest extends our warmest greetings to Mrs. Naomi Whitehead for celebrating her 113^th birthday.

For more information, please visit Naomi Whitehead’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.