| Astrid Qvist | |
 Qvist at the age of 107. | |
| Birth: | 6 March 1912 Ostrobothnia, Russian Empire (now Finland) |
| Death: | 18 July 2022 Narpes, Ostrobothnia, Finland |
| Age: | 110 years, 134 days |
| Country: |  FIN
|
| Unvalidated | |
Astrid Qvist (née Martens; 6 March 1912 – 18 July 2022) was a Finnish supercentenarian who was one of the oldest victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time of her death, she was the oldest known living person in Finland and in the Nordic countries. Her age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).
Biography
Early Life and Family
Astrid Qvist was born as Astrid Martens in village of Tojby, Ostrobothnia, Finland on 6 March 1912. She had two older sisters. Elvida and Ester, who lived to be 104 and 102 years old, respectively.
She remembered when Finland was a part of the Russian Empire and two Russian soldiers stayed for a night and demanded to be allowed to put their belongings in the family’s wardrobe. But later, the family and the soldiers became friends. She attended school for four years, but later needed to work at home.
She married Einar Qvist in 1931. They had two children: Harry Qvist (1931–1975) and Viva Melander (born 1933). In the late 1950s, she traveled with her daughter to the United States for nine days. Harry died of a heart attack in a sauna and, shortly after, Einar died. Later, her daughter Viva moved back to Finland to help Astrid on the farm.
Later Life
When asked what her secret to longevity was, she claimed she never did anything in particular, but cited a good diet and to work as hard as possible explained why she lived so long.
Qvist became the oldest known living person in Finland, following the death of Helvi Harma on 24 December 2020. In March 2022, she celebrated her 110th birthday. She became the oldest known living person in the Nordic countries, following the death of Flarid Lagerlund of Sweden on 9 April 2022.
Astrid Qvist lived at the same retirement home as her daughter, in Narpes, Ostrobothnia, Finland. She died on 18 July 2022, a few days after testing positive for COVID-19, at the age of 110 years, 134 days. After her death, Gunborg Hancock became the oldest known living Finnish-born person, and Sirkka Nieminen became the oldest known living person in Finland.
Gallery
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References
- Närpes äldsta invånare fyller 105 år Syd-Österbotten, 3 March 2017
- News report footage, begins at 10:20 När TV, 4 March 2020
- Astrid, 108, är mer än nöjd med nya Efraim: "Rummet är så vackert som det bara kan vara" Syd-Österbotten, 3 July 2020
- Astrid 109 år När TV, 8 March 2021
- Astrid Qvist on Suomen vanhin ihminen – Sunnuntaina 110 vuotta täyttävän naisen teoria pitkän iän salaisuudesta saa terveysintoilijat hätkähtämään Helsingin Sanomat, 6 March 2022
- Finlands äldsta, Närpesbon Astrid Qvist dog i måndags – 110-årsdagen firades i mars Syd-Österbotten, 20 July 2022
- Syd-Österbotten: Nordens äldsta person har dött – Närpesbon Astrid Qvist blev 110 år gammal Hufvudstadsbladet, 20 July 2022
| Finland's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Anna Runer • Unidentified • Unidentified • Anna Kreetta Wettainen • Leena Juhanantytar • Lovisa Lindholm • Erik Ström • Maja Gref • Maria Flink • Maja Greta Hedeman • Maria Helena Friman • Pietari Heija • Anna Gavrilova Komonen • Lovisa Vehmaskangas • Ulla Nummelin • Maria Palin • Anders Johan Forss • Unidentified • Eva Enström • Isak Smedberg • Hedvig Sateri • Anders Lindholm • Maria Holmberg • Maria Ahonen • Leena Lindqvist • Kajsa Fellman • Sofie Törnudd • Maria Koskinen • Fredrika Männistö • Erkki Helminen • Heikki Kämäräinen • Alexander von Stahl • Olivia Rosvall • Greta Helin • Kajsa Stina Forsström • Eva Blomqvist • Maria Pekuri • Emma Heikkilä • Ines Achren • Olga Toivonen • Elina Peurala • Aleksandra Lindroos • Elisabeth Rantamaki • Liisa Strellman • Amalia Wallenius • Ida Saarinen • Maria Valimaki • Maria Kumlander • Amanda Riihela • Mathilda Honka • Fanny Nystrom • Ida Virenius • Klaara Tyyniaho • Amanda Moksi • Maria Rothovius • Daisy Göhle • Sigrid Viik • Hilda Hakkinen • Anna Hagman • Elsa Tilkanen • Aarne Arvonen • Viljo Kekola • Jussi Leskinen • Aino Yrttimaa • Selma Tuominen • Helvi Karki • Helfrid Eriksson • Saara Ahonen • Helvi Harma • Astrid Qvist • Sirkka Nieminen |
