Yes, it's awful when they suddenly start "creeping" around the village. You should read, if you haven't already, the "oldest villager" thread, interesting comments regarding the aging process.

I believe that the approximate life spans for the levels is an increase from mid/late 50's (level 1) to mid/late 60's (level 2) and then mid/late 70's (level 3). There will always be exceptions to this of course. I recall a VV in one village who lived to be 69 on level 1. And obviously in level 3 and your village is established, they will sometimes live into their 80's.

But whether you actually "see" them working in your village, or whether it's just a number on your stats page is anyone's guess, haha!!

Best of Irish,
Maura