Elisabet Parkson

Elisabet Parkson [Estonian: Pärkson] (née Vares/Vaaruskiks; 22 December 1899 – 21 February 2008) was an Estonian centenarian who was the oldest living person in Estonia and the last Estonian born in the 1800s. She was also the third-oldest person to die in Estonia at the time of her death, behind Ann Kurval and Anna Jurnas.

Biography
Elisabet Parkson was born on 22 December 1899 in Pskov, Russia, a village inhabited by Estonians. Her father left for Estonia after he had an opportunity to buy some land. Her surname, Vares, was later changed to Vaaruskiks; her birth certificate was altered to reflect this.

Parkson later married and had four children, one of whom, 79-year-old Alviine, was alive when her mother turned 108. In 1937, her husband was taken to a concentration camp, where he died. In 1943, Parkson and her family were brought to Estonia, as were many other families.

On 19 May 2005, Parkson became the oldest person in Estonia and the last Estonian born in the 1800s following the death of 106-year-old Evgenia Altosaar. She was living with her daughter at the time of her 108th birthday and had still not been granted Estonian citizenship.

Elisabet Parkson passed away on 21 February 2008 at the age of 108 years, 61 days. Her successor as the oldest living person in Estonia was then-104-year-old Maria Orutalu (1903-2012).