Teresia Lindahl
- Full name: Kerstin Teresia Lindahl
- Lifespan: (10.06.1888 – 02.03.1999)
- Age: 110 years, 265, days
- Birthplace: Västra Torsås, Alvesta kommun, Kronoberg län, Sweden
- Last residence: Norrhammar, Jönköping kommun, Jönköping län, Sweden
- Application date: 10.06.1998
- Validation date: N/A
- Validation source: BINNS/Robert Young
Biography
Teresia Lindahl was born in Västra Torsås, Alvesta kommun, Kronoberg län, Sweden on 10 June 1888. She married her husband Helge Lindahl in the same place on 28 September 1918 and they had a son Sven (born 1922). Helge died in 1952. She was housewife whole her life. At the age of 99, she operated for breast cancer. At the age of 105, she broked the femoral neck.
Teresia Lindahl was about to turn 17 when the Swedish-Norwegian union was dissolved in 1905. When World War II broke out, she was 51 years old and had been married to Helge, an elementary school teacher in Norrahammar, since 1918. Their only child, son Sven, was only 17 at the time. She was a homemaker all her life, and Sven recounted:
– I grew up with a mother who loved to bake buns. She made delicious food, with her cabbage rolls and meatballs being the best.
Her husband Helge passed away in 1952 when Teresia was 65 years old. Although she had many suitors, she did not want to remarry. She wove, crocheted, and was active in the sewing and housewives’ associations. Every afternoon, there was an activity that attracted her. At the age of 99, Teresia underwent surgery for breast cancer. Four days later, she went on a shopping spree and visited a restaurant. At age 105, she broke her hip and has never fully recovered since.
Since 1988, Lindahl has lived in the nursing home Hammargården in Norrahammar. Teresia Lindahl has one child, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and so far, four great-great-grandchildren. She celebrated her 100th birthday by going to a restaurant with her family at a hotel outside Jönköping. She also marked her day by moving into the nursing home.
Following the death of 109 year-old Clara Asberg on 27 August 1997, Lindahl became the joint-oldest living person in Sweden. She shared this title with Hilda Grahn of Skane. Following Grahn’s death on 24 June 1998, Lindahl became the sole titleholder.
Teresia Lindahl died in Norrahammar, Sweden on 2 March 1999 at the age of 110 years, 265 days.
Longevity recognition
- Doyenne of Sweden (27.08.1997 – 02.03.1999) (jointly with Hilda Grahn until 24.06.1998)
Validation
Teresia Lindahl’s age was verified by BINNS, and Robert Young GRG Correspondent for United States, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).
