The Rockford, Illinois, native celebrated her 113th birthday on September 15, 2026, making her the oldest known living person in the state of Illinois.
Born Doris Nygren on September 15, 1913, she has spent her entire life connected to Rockford.
Doris married Carroll Noreen in 1942. After her husband died six years later, she raised their two daughters with support from her parents while continuing to work.
She eventually joined Barber-Colman, a Rockford manufacturer, where she worked for 29 years before retiring in 1978.
Her life has spanned more than a century of enormous change — from the early 1900s through the modern digital age.
When asked in a previous interview about the secret to her long life, Doris credited a healthy diet, regular exercise and living a good life. She also said she never drank or smoked.
In 2024, her age was officially validated by the Gerontology Research Group, and she continues to be recognized among the world’s oldest living people.
At 113, Doris’s birthday is more than a celebration of another year.
It is a celebration of 113 years of memories, family and history. ❤️🎂
Source: Gerontology Research Group / LongeviQuest / Rockford News First.