VANCOUVER – The oldest person in Canada has died.
Merle Barwis, who lived in a Langford care home, had 38 grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and even outlived two sons.
“She’s the oldest person in Canada we know that, apparently she’s the thirteenth oldest in the world,” said her grandson Richard Barwis last December.
Merle passed away on Nov. 22, one month and one day shy of her 114th birthday.
She grew up in Saskatchewan, but was born in Iowa. Her father had a horse ranch and supplied horses to the Royal Northwest Mounted Police.
Merle and her husband came out to B.C. in the early 50s and spent most of their time in Sooke before she came to Victoria.
“The things she’s seen and the stories she can tell, especially when she was young, they’re very interesting,” said Richard last year.
Her grandson said Merle believed the secret to a long and happy life was to to keep clean, mind your own business, and have a cold beer once in a while.
“She worked hard I guess, and never got into any real trouble,” said Richard.
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