(Trends Wide) — Thelma Sutcliffe, who was the oldest person in the United States, died Monday at age 115, according to a relative.
Thelma Sutcliffe
“He passed away peacefully in Omaha in an assisted living facility,” said his 94-year-old nephew, Robert Sorenson.
Thelma Sutcliffe became the oldest American on April 17, 2021, according to the Gerontological Research Group. He was also the seventh oldest person in the world.
Luella Mason, a longtime friend, had told Trends Wide that Sutcliffe had lost most of her sight and some of her hearing, but was otherwise “still very sharp.”
Thelma Sutcliffe had attributed her long life to the fact that she never had children, never smoked and was a firm believer in never worrying about anything, Mason said.
The last time Sorenson saw his aunt was two years ago. “We had plans to meet, but the pandemic hit; we talked on the phone a lot,” said Sorenson, who lives in the Phoenix area.
“I’m the last closest relative she has. She was very important to me. She was good to me and my siblings over the years,” Sorenson added.
