Eldest Estonian turns 108

Photo: Margus Ansu

I did pay a visit as, last April, Elle Mälberg celebrated her 107^th birthday. Back then, she was second in seniority in Estonia. Last Friday, turning 108, the former teacher was already the oldest of all.

The oldest of Estonians living in Estonia, that is. Regarding the ones abroad, we cannot be sure. In the year of 1907 as Ms Mälberg came into this world, Guglielmo Marconi launched regular radio telegraph service between North-America and Europe. The same year, Astrid Lindgren was born and Jakob Hurt went to be with the Lord. Times were troublesome in Czarist Russia – at opening of new State Duma in St Petersburg, some 40,000 protesters were dispelled.

Ms Mälberg is a fragile yet vital link to times in the out-of-touch past. As WW1 started, she was a girl of seven. As Estonian Republic was proclaimed, the girl was 10. As Russia invaded in June 1940, she was a married woman aged 33. Till today, Ms Mälberg dwells in her Räpina house built with husband during the times of Stalin.

Yankee lady the oldest

According to Internet, the oldest Estonian ever lived to be 112. Also, two have made it till age 109, say interior ministry data – one deceased in 2012, the other last year. Those living to be 108 are fewer than fingers on both hands.

As documented, the longest a person has lived in the world was 122. Since April 1^st, the oldest living human being on the planet is Jeralean Talley (115) in USA.

Yesterday, Ms Mälberg was not her talkative best. Having entertained guests, former students and naturally the parish elder, the lady was somewhat tired of the din. The back was hurting too. She did, however, remember I was around last year, and the newspaper story we wrote was stuck in her cupboard window.

Caregiver Riina Soidla said Ms Mälberg is a bit timid with strangers and does not tell them much. «But when it’s just the two of us, we do talk and it’s surprising for her age to remember as much as she does,» said Ms Soidla. Still interested in affairs of the world, Ms Mälberg is one to listen to the radio.

Does she know she’s the eldest living Estonian? «That’s what they say,» she answered. How has the year been? «Not bad, but these couple of last days were harder,» she said.

No longer venturing outside, Ms Mälberg does walk to the kitchen and, as supported by the carer, a bit around the room. Each day is kicked into gear with a tiny tipple, good in her age to get the blood going. In the night, she sometimes loses sleep and spends some time dangling her feet back and forth over edge of bed – her exercise.

See you next year, I suggest. Not hoping for anything anymore, she says. «Who knows,» she adds. Ms Soidla said she had a time more difficult in March as the flu came around, but she overcame. «She begun to look forward to the birthday, and was thus quickened,» said the carer.

To Ms Soidla, Ms Mälberg has taught some simple secrets – probably the reason of her longevity. «She is telling me you must not worry,» said the caregiver. «Elle says: don’t take everything to heart, and don’t wear yourself out worrying. And also, she only talks about good things – she has never put anybody down, never backbitten anybody. She absolutely does not grumble.»

The false teeth incident

Very active in the community, Ms Mälberg taught natural science and physical education at Räpina School as early as in 1932. A lot of fresh air breathed in, a lot of work done. Regarding food, she isn’t picky and never has been. She does prefer the stuff with less fat, though.

Having toughed at various village schools even before 1932, Ms Mälberg is totally unable to count her students. She also led the Home Daughters girl scouts. It was only at the beginning of 1980ies that the lady finally quit teaching.

Last year, I asked Ms Mälberg what was the first thing she remembered. «The best stuff one fails to remember, but I do remember when we had to flee home as the government changed,» says the lady. At the end of 1918, during the War of Independence, Ms Mälberg and parents fled the very Bolsheviks. «We went with a two-horse load,» she recalls. «Father had sacks of grain on the sleigh – there I sat, with him. We fled to Luunja and were there till we could come back home.»

Ms Mälberg’s parents were farmers. After the second great war, her sister and Mother were taken to Siberia; Mom was buried there. With no children of her own, Ms Mälberg does not complain. She had such droves of pupils. «Didn’t really have the need for own kids,» she said last year. The husband died back in 1990.

After I left yesterday, after a while Ms Mälberg did do a bit of worrying – for the photograph, she missed sticking in false teeth. No problem, I told Ms Soidla: the mouth wasn’t open. Always a lady – not for mere eating, teeth are for beauty.

Estonians, a hundred and above

Age/ current number/ April last year

100: 66 (56)

101: 29 (40)

102: 23 (21)

103: 13 (15)

104: 10 (7)

105: 5 (5)

106: 1 (1)

107: 1 (1)

108: 1 (–)

109: – (1)

Totalling: 149 (147)

Source: interior ministry