Margaret Romans
Margaret Romans | |
|---|---|
 Romans in 2025 | |
| Born | 16 March 1912 Riga, Russian Empire (now Latvia) |
| Died | (aged 113 years, 223 days) |
| Occupation | Art teacher |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse |
Heinrich Romans
(m. 1941; died 2002) |
Margaret Romans (16 March 1912 – 25 October 2025) was a Latvian-born Canadian supercentenarian who was the oldest living person in Canada from the death of Hazel Skuce on 3 January 2025 until her own death.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]Margarita Anna Mežgaile was born on 16 March 1912 in Riga, Latvia (then part of the Russian Empire). Her mother was of German and Latvian descent, and her father was a Latvian merchant.[3][4] In 1941, she married Heinrich Romans.
The couple did not have any children. After fleeing from Latvia, they lived in Germany for a couple of years before emigrating to Canada in 1947. Romans worked as an art teacher at YMCA,[5] and her husband was an engineer.[6][7]
In 2002, Romans was widowed and lived independently in Westmount, Quebec, until she was 107, when she moved into a nursing home in Montreal.[8][9][10]
In 2024, at 112-years-old, Romans could still walk with assistance and also followed current events.[11][12]
Her age was verified in September 2024, by the Gerontology Research Group.[13] On 3 January 2025, after the death of 112-year-old Hazel Skuce, Romans became the oldest living Canadian person.[14]
She lived in Sainte-Geneviève, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, before her death on 25 October 2025.[15] Following her death, 111-year-old Berthe Courtemanche Verdone succeeded Romans as Canada’s oldest living person.[16]
References
[edit]- ↑ "World Supercentenarian Ranking List". Gerontology Research Group. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ↑ "Margaret Romans". Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ↑ Jarinovska, Kristīne Gerontology Research Group https://x.com/jarinovska/status/1893506073203491077
- ↑ "Pasaulē vecākā latviete dzima 1912" (in Latvian). Jarinovska, Kristīne Gerontology Research Group. 23 February 2025. Retrieved 13 August 2025.
- ↑ "Art workshop at 'Y' opens new courses". Montreal Gazette. 30 January 1953. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ↑ "Kanādas vecākā iedzīvotāja, rīdziniece Margarita Romana, gatavojas svinēt 113. dzimšanas dienu" (in Latvian). Jauns. 21 February 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ↑ "A Montreal woman has celebrated her 111th birthday. Here are her words of wisdom". Global News. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ↑ "1 month shy of her 113th birthday, Canada's oldest person shares some wisdom". Retrieved 20 May 2025.
- ↑ "Montreal woman's advice on 111th birthday? Be curious, be grateful, never hold a grudge". Montreal Gazette. 15 March 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Canadian Margaret Romans validated as supercentenarian". LongeviQuest. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ↑ "Margaret Romans - Gerontology Research Group". Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- ↑ "Margaret Romans: 111 years young" (PDF). Montreal West Viewspaper. April 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ↑ "Gerontology Research Group recognizes Margaret Romans of Montreal as the new Doyenne of Canada". Gerontology Research Group. 12 January 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ↑ "Hazel Skuce, doyenne of Canada, dies at 112". Gerontology Research Group. 11 January 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ↑ "Margaret Romans of Latvia/Canada, 113th birthday". Gerontology Research Group. 17 March 2025. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ↑ "Berthe Courtemanche". LongeviQuest. 10 January 2026. Retrieved 14 January 2026.