Gladys Swetland

Marguerite Gladys Swetland (18 April 1892 – 14 December 2005) was an American supercentenarian and the oldest living person in the northern part of the United States when she died. Born to Chester Allen and Kate Doud Swetland in Mills, Pennsylvania, Gladys began her career as a teacher in 1910, and only retired at age 78. After that, she continued to substitute-teach until age 80, and she drove a car well into her 100s. Swetland never married, and lived on her own until age 110. She attributed her longevity to never marrying, and she was able to play the piano even at age 113. Only in her final months did increasing frailty slow her down. She died at the Charles Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport, and is buried in the cemetery at Mills, PA. At 113 years and 240 days, Swetland was recognized as the ninth-oldest living person and fourth-oldest American citizen at the time of her death. She was the subject of several newspaper articles and interviews about her long life. Swetland was listed in the addendum of the list of the 100 oldest women ever until June 28, 2011.