The oldest living person in the U.S. has died at age 115, Elizabeth Francis. Her departure marks the closing of a book in this tale of living lives incredibly long. She had lived over something quite amazing, for she was born in 1907!
Francis wasn’t just known for her age — she was also regarded locally as a font of wisdom on the art of living to an advanced and fulfilling age. Those who knew her often would say she was effervescent, sardonic, and profoundly insightful. As readers of Beauty and the ‘Burg, we want to know more about her long-life choices—a mix of DNA with healthy living.
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One of the things that made her live so long is her abundantly positive outlook on life. Her mantra was laughter, joy, and connectedness. This struck a chord with many and prompts the question: How big of an impact does mindset play in our lifespan?
But as we deal with social distancing and the cold reach of technology, Francis’ life is a reminder. The spirit is nurtured by community and connections. It is easy to dismiss the fact that she often hosted friends, something more of us did before we lost ourselves in our digital devices.
During the course of her daily routines, she strung out a few simple habits. The secret: keeping moving, perhaps with some regular gardening and going to bed at the same time each day. She preached moderation in everything, and although she had a sweet tooth, she countered that by saying life was too short to not eat dessert.
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Her family remembers the light and warmth she spread in their lives, saying that “she is an inspiration for us.” They remembered her compassion, bright smile, and wisdom she handed down to generations of family members. It is an emotional symbol of what one individual can mean to others.
Her age, while something to smile about on the face of it, led to a lot of talk about what really leads people to live longer. Is it all just genetic, or do changes in the way you live make a difference? It is a topic that science continues to mine the answers for, and Francis has been offering up insights ever since her super-ager bona fides were established.
Like when we reflect on our lives, it becomes important to remember all she gave us and what should be taken from her passing. What, however, can those of us who call it a life at less than 100 do to learn from the centenarians? Then, more immediately to us: Is the way people lived in those cultures better than how we live now — or at least are there ways certain groups of these ancestors conducted themselves that might benefit our lives?
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Her story, in so many ways, could be seen as the human experience. It is the home of hope, love, and shared laughter. But her death is not merely a tragedy; it is an admonition to us all about what really matters and how we should be living.
Elizabeth Francis lived through much of her life, from the Jazz Age to the dawn of space exploration and beyond. Each generation had its own unique problems and solutions. All along, she anchored steadfastly.
Her legacy lives on, where the impacts she has made are family memories and lessons learned. How do we hold on to that in a world so keen on moving ahead? Maybe we need to take a moment, straighten our backs, and smell the life which is fleeting away from us.
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Therefore, let us continue without one of the very best among us and cherish her values: connection, joy, and sprinkle a little sweetness in our lives as we go forward along this winding road. We had been traveling around the country, and I was writing an autobiography based on this rather strange childhood of hers, a kind of Addams Family caregivers-at-large journal that she brought to life with her curiosity about everyone else in the world.
