Gladys Swetland

Gladys Swetland (18 April 1892 — 14 December 2005) was an American supercentenarian.

Biography
Marguerite Gladys Swetland was born in Mills, Pennsylvania on 18 April 1892 as the youngest of four children born to Chester and Kate Doud Swetland.

Gladys described her childhood as a happy time and that her older siblings considered her quite spoiled. She took her first train ride alone at the age of three, the occasion was to visit her grandparents.

Gladys worked as a teacher locally after graduating from high school and later attended the Teachers College, where she earned a degree in education. She primarily worked with younger children until retiring at the age of 70 but continued substituting until the age of 78.

Gladys never married, but was at one point engaged to a soldier who died during World War I. Instead Gladys enjoyed travelling across the country both alone and with friends.

She was an avid piano player and was still playing the piano at the time she turned 112. She was the organist and pianist for the Mills Union Church and played there until the 21st century.

Gladys Swetland moved to a nursing home at the age of 110 and died in Coudersport, Pennsylvania on 14 December 2005, aged 113 years, 240 days.