Herlda Senhouse, the second-oldest resident in the U.S., passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 113. She died on Saturday at her home in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where she had resided for the past 40 years, according to Wellesley Public Information Officer Stephanie Hawkinson.
Despite her advanced age, Senhouse remained an active and cherished member of the Wellesley community, as reported by the New York Post.
“She never missed an opportunity to learn more, do more, experience more,” she said.
RELATED STORIES
Hawkinson, a close friend of Senhouse, met her on her 108th birthday and celebrated with her annually since.
Born on February 28, 1911, in Piedmont, West Virginia, Senhouse moved to Woburn, Massachusetts, to live with her aunt shortly after her birth.
She graduated high school at 16 and aimed to pursue nursing in 1931. However, she was denied admission to a nursing school that had already met its quota of two black students, as reported by the Boston Globe.
Senhouse transitioned to housekeeping after being denied entry to nursing school, working for several families over the years.
She also founded the Boston Clique Club, a social club for dancers and musicians that raised funds to improve educational opportunities for black students.
At 105, she enrolled in the New England Centenarian Study, where researches look at why some individuals age slowly and evade age-related diseases.
Senhouse committed to donating her brain to researchers after her death, according to Hawkinson. She attributed her longevity to not having children.
Despite this, she was never alone, maintaining a strong community of friends, family, and church members.
“She was truly an inspiration to so many in our community,” she said.
Senhouse’s extraordinary life spanned many consequential periods in American history, including both World Wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, and two pandemics.
She was the second-oldest resident in the U.S., just behind 114-year-old Naomi Whitehead of Greenville, Pennsylvania.
