The Age of the Oldest Person to Ever Live in New Hampshire Will Shock You

Are you looking to live into your 100s?

If being a centenarian is on your to do list, there are a few do's and don't according to

Eat like you live in a Blue Zone

“Blue Zones” are areas where people regularly live to 100+, like Okinawa (Japan), Sardinia (Italy), and Nicoya (Costa Rica). Their diets are:

Mostly plant-based (lots of veggies, beans, and whole grains)

Low in processed sugar and red meat

Heavy on anti-inflammatory foods (like olive oil, fish, and nuts)

Stay active—gently but constantly

They’re not running marathons, but centenarians move a lot. Think:

Walking daily

Gardening

Doing chores manually (no Roombas in the Blue Zones 😅)

Keep your mind sharp and stress low

Mental and emotional health are huge:

Lifelong learning (reading, puzzles, or just being curious)

Strong social connections

A sense of purpose—the Okinawans call it "ikigai"

Rest like it’s sacred...cuz it is!

They usually:

Sleep 7–9 hours a night

Nap strategically

Follow natural circadian rhythms (early to bed, early to rise)

Enjoy some occasional booze but don't overdo it!

A lot of centenarians do drink alcohol—but modestly. A glass of wine with dinner, not a six-pack on Friday night.

Good genes help—but they’re not everything

Genetics can stack the deck in your favor, but lifestyle seems to be responsible for up to 80% of how we age. So even if your family tree doesn’t have a bunch of 100-year-olds in it, it doesn't mean you won't get there someday!

Whatever Mary Josephine Ray of Westmoreland, New Hampshire, was doing was working! She lived well into her 100's, to 114 to be precise! If you really want to get technical, she was 114 and 294 days, not too far from 115!

At the time of her passing in 2010, Mary was the oldest person in the United States and the second-oldest in the world, according to the Gerontology Research Group. She was also recorded as the oldest person ever to live in New Hampshire.

According to Star News, Mary enjoyed every day she was given on this earth. She never thought about dying. Before her decline she was planning her 115th birthday party!

In her later years she played a lot of bingo and enjoyed singing “You Are My Sunshine” almost every day.

What a legend! Do you have any centenarians in your family? Are they still alive today?