Hazel Plummer

Hazel Plummer

Plummer celebrating her 111th birthday in 2019

Unvalidated

Hazel Kathleen Plummer (nee Downs; born 19 June 1908) is an American supercentenarian who is the oldest known person living in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Her age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).

Biography

Early Life

Hazel Plummer was born in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA, on 19 June 1908 to Harry and Margaret (Allison) Downs. She had one older sister, Grace, and two older brothers, Elmer and George. Sadly George died in 1906 at one year of age before Hazel was born. She grew up a street apart from her future husband, Elmer – although they didn’t know it at the time. The two married in either 1934 or 1935 (sources vary) and had two children, Roger and David.

After the eighth grade, Plummer went to trade school to become a seamstress. She went to work for an upscale designer on Newbury Street in Boston, Massachusetts. After marrying, she raised her children while her husband worked at a steel company and then in the children’s department of a department store. The family moved to Littleton, Massachusetts in 1957, where Plummer has lived since.

Later Life

After Plummer's father died suddenly aged 74, her mother lived with the family for 22 years until her mother's death aged 94. After her husband's death, Plummer spent 16 years living in her own second-floor apartment before moving in to a nursing home in Littleton, Massachusetts, when she was 109. At the time of her 110th birthday in June 2018, Plummer had six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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

On 30 December 2020, at the age of 112, Plummer received her first dose of the Pfizer/BionTech vaccine, making her one of oldest people to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Gallery

Plummer in an undated photo

Plummer in an undated photo

Plummer at the age of 108 in 2017.

Plummer a few weeks before her 109th birthday

Plummer on her 110th birthday

Plummer, aged 111, with her son David in January 2020

Plummer celebrating her 112th birthday during the COVID-19 pandemic

Plummer receiving the COVID-19 vaccine at her care home on 30 December 2020

References

• Hazel Plummer celebrates her 101st birthday WickedLocal.com, 15 June 2009
• Town’s oldest resident proves optimism can lead to a long, happy life Fifty Plus Advocate, 27 April 2015
• Community Profile: Littleton's oldest resident -- Hazel Plummer WickedLocal.com, 28 February 2017
• Woman celebrates upcoming 109th birthday: 'I don't feel any older' WCVB Channel 5 Boston on YouTube, 1 June 2017
• Hazel Plummer Turns 110! LCTV on YouTube, 20 June 2018
• Littleton resident celebrates milestone 110th birthday surrounded by loved ones WickedLocal.com, 29 June 2018
• Plummer turns 111 at Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley Life Care Centers of America, 2019
• Hazel Plummer Celebration Jan 2020 LCTV on YouTube, 17 January 2020
• Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley resident celebrated as oldest in state Life Care Center of America Nashoba Valley, 12 February 2020
• My grandmother Hazel, is a bit of a celebrity these days... Wade Plummer on Facebook, 12 June 2020
• Our oldest member Hazel, turns 112 & is the 24th oldest person in the United States... CCOL - Congregational Church of Littleton, UCC on Facebook, 13 June 2020
• Happy birthday to my grandma Hazel... Wade Plummer on Facebook, 19 June 2020
• 2020 Hazel 112 birthday parade LCTV on YouTube, 19 June 2020
• Massachusetts’ Oldest Resident, 112-Year-Old Hazel Plummer, Gets COVID Vaccine CBS Boston, 31 December 2020