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Fourth Oldest American Dies at 113
M. Gladys Swetland was listed as 9th oldest in the
world
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This photo by
The Kane Republican shows Ms. Swetland playing the piano at her
113th birthday celebration for Pennsylvania Sen. Joe Scarnati
and his son. |
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Dec. 20, 2005 – M. Gladys Swetland, who celebrated
her 113th birthday on April 21, 2005, by playing the piano for family
and friends, passed away on December 14 after achieving recognition as
the ninth oldest person in the world and the fourth oldest in the U.S.
Gladys was born in
Mills, PA on April 18,1892 to Chester Allen and Kate Doud Swetland. She
taught school until she retired at the age of 78, and was very well
known throughout Potter County as the matriarch of the Valley where she
resided, living through three centuries, according to her obituary in
the Star Gazette, Elimia, N.Y.
"She was the subject
of many articles and interviews about her long and full life. She always
possessed a sound mind and remarkable agility and drove her automobile
well past her 100th birthday," the newspaper reported.
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She died at the Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in
Coudersport, PA. Funeral services were Saturday, Dec.17, and she was
buried in the Woodland National Cemetery.
Her presence on the Gerontology Research Group's
list supercentenarians, which is recognized as reflecting the world's
oldest living people, gave the U.S. four people in the top ten.
Japan now takes the number nine spot as Yone
Minagawa, 112, moves up to number nine. But, the U.S. still retains four
in the top ten as the tenth spot is not taken by Moses Hardy, also 112.
Interestingly, both of these older people were born in January and will
soon turn 113.
Minagawa was born Jan. 4, 1893, and Hardy on Jan.
6, 1893.
Hardy also becomes on the second man in the top 10.
The other is Emiliano Mercado del Toro of
Puerto Rico. He is 114 and holds
the number five spot on the list. He is also listed in the record books
as the oldest living U.S. veteran.
Ms. Swetland described herself as a "tomboy," when
she grew up around the millworkers who were employed in her father's
four sawmills.
She never married and cherished her independence.
She did not move to a nursing home until she was 110, after she broke
both legs.
Editor's Note: SeniorJournal.com was
notified of Ms. Swetland's death by Miner Swetland of Taylorsville, Utah
who said Ms. Swetland was an aunt.
Resources:
> Kane Republican (PA) -
http://www.kanerepublican.com/
> Star Gazette of Elmira/Corning, N.Y.
http://www.stargazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
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