Hazel Plummer

• Full name: Hazel Kathleen Plummer (née Downs)
• Lifespan: 19.06.1908 – 25.05.2023
• Age: 114 years, 340 days
• Birthplace: Sommerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
• Last residence: Littleton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA
• Application date: 21.06.2018
• Validation date: 26.06.2022
• Validation source: Robert Young/David Plummer/Waclaw Jan Kroczek/Oliver Thorpe/Alexander Woodle

Biography

Hazel Plummer was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA, on June 19, 1908, to Harry and Margaret Downs. She had an older sister, Grace, and two older brothers, Elmer and George. Sadly, in 1906, before Plummer was born, George died at the age of one. Growing up, Hazel lived on the same street as her future husband, Elmer, though they were unaware of each other’s existence at the time. They married in 1935 and had two children, Roger and David.

After completing the eighth grade, Hazel pursued a career in sewing, attending trade school to become a seamstress. She worked for an upscale designer on Newbury Street in Boston, Massachusetts. Following her marriage, Hazel dedicated herself to raising her children, while Elmer worked at a steel company and later in the children’s department of a department store. In 1957, the family moved to Littleton, Massachusetts, where Hazel continued to reside until her passing.

Later in life, Hazel’s mother lived with her family for 22 years, from her father’s sudden death at the age of 74 until her mother’s passing at the age of 94. After her husband’s death in January 2000, Hazel lived independently in her second-floor apartment for 17 years before relocating to a nursing home in Littleton when she turned 109. At the time of her 110th birthday in June 2018, Hazel had six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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

On December 30, 2020, at the age of 112, Hazel received her first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, becoming one of the oldest individuals known to have received the vaccine. She celebrated her 113th birthday on June 19, 2021, and her age was officially validated by the GRG on June 26, 2022, just one week after her 114th birthday.

Hazel Plummer passed away in Littleton, Massachusetts, USA, on May 25, 2023, at the remarkable age of 114 years and 340 days, just 25 days short of her 115th birthday. Her life was a testament to the endurance of time and the wisdom that comes with a long and fulfilling journey.

Longevity Recognition

Following the passing of Barbara Barton on August 12, 2022, Hazel Plummer became one of only two American individuals born in 1908 still living, with the other being Edie Ceccarelli. Additionally, since the death of Bessie Hendricks on January 3, 2023, Hazel Plummer was among the mere three remaining American-born people born prior to 1909 who were still living. These three individuals were born during the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt.

Hazel Plummer held the distinction of being the second-oldest validated living person in the United States, only surpassed by Edie Ceccarelli. In the broader context, she was the third-oldest validated living American-born person, after Maria Branyas Morera and Edie Ceccarelli. Her legacy extended as the second-oldest validated person ever from the U.S. state of Massachusetts, following Bernice Madigan.

At the time of her passing, Hazel Plummer was the sixth-oldest living person globally, whose age was verified by the Gerontology Research Group. This distinguished group included individuals like Maria Branyas Morera, Fusa Tatsumi, Edie Ceccarelli, Tomiko Itooka, and Inah Canabarro Lucas.

Longevity Titles

• Oldest living person in Massachusetts (26.11.2019 – 25.05.2023)

Validation

Hazel Plummer’s was verified by Robert Young, David Plummer, Waclaw Jan Kroczek, Oliver Thorpe, and Alexander Woodle, and validated by the GRG as of June 26, 2022.

Hazel Plummer at age 111.

Hazel Plummer of her wedding day in 1935.

Hazel Plummer on her 101st birthday.

Hazel Plummer, 105th birthday.

Hazel Plummer, aged 108.

Hazel Plummer, 109th birthday.

Hazel Plummer celebrating her 110th birthday.

Hazel Plummer celebrating her 111th birthday.

Hazel Plummer, aged 111, with her son David [Jan. 2020]

Hazel Plummer on her 112th birthday.

Hazel Plummer (aged 112) receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at her care home on December 30, 2020.

Hazel Plummer on her 113th birthday [June 2021].

Hazel Plummer on her 114th birthday [June 2022].

Photo courtesy of NBCBoston.com, Wade Plummer, Gerontology Wiki.