World's third-oldest woman dies

NEW HOPE, Minn., Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Her family says Catherine Hagel, documented to be the world's third-oldest person, has died in New Hope, Minn., at the age of 114 years and 8 days.

Hagel, who died Saturday at a nursing home, had been in frail health since she turned 111, said her 90-year-old daughter, Cecelia Gulczinski, of Crystal, Minn., The Star-Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis reported Monday.

Hagel is survived by her daughter, 35 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren and 20 great-great grandchildren, The Star-Tribune reported.

Hagel was born Catherine Dahlheimer in Dayton, Minn., in 1894. She married John Hagel and farmed in Dayton, staying on the farm after he died in 1966.

It was a point of family pride that she sewed her own wedding dress and then made it into a baptismal gown that has been worn by more than 50 of her descendants, the newspaper said.

Hagel became the oldest Minnesotan on record when she turned 113 years old and 73 days, passing the record set in 2002 by childhood friend and sister-in-law, Delvina Dahlheimer, The Star-Tribune reported, noting the world's oldest documented person is believed to be Maria de Jesus of Portugal, who is 115.