New York, Aug 21: Maria Branyas Morera, recognized as the world’s oldest living person, has died at the age of 117 in Spain. Born in the United States and having lived through significant historical events, Branyas passed away peacefully in her sleep, according to her family.
Branyas, who had resided at the Santa Maria del Tura nursing home in Olot, northeastern Spain for the past 20 years, had recently shared that she felt “weak” and was preparing for the end. Her family confirmed her passing on social media, expressing their sorrow and remembering her for her wisdom and kindness.
Her longevity was officially acknowledged by Guinness World Records in January 2023, following the death of French nun Lucile Randon, who was 118. With Branyas’s death, the title of the oldest living person now belongs to Japan’s Tomiko Itooka, born May 23, 1908, who is currently 116 years old.
Branyas lived through the 1918 flu pandemic, World War I, World War II, and the Spanish Civil War. Despite contracting COVID-19 in 2020 and being confined to her room at the nursing home, she made a full recovery. Her daughter Rosa Moret attributed her mother’s remarkable longevity to “genetics” and noted that Branyas had never been hospitalized or experienced significant health issues.
Born in San Francisco on March 4, 1907, Branyas moved with her family to Spain in 1915 due to the ongoing World War I. The journey was marred by the death of her father from tuberculosis. Branyas later settled in Barcelona and lived a full life, marrying a doctor and raising three children. She had 11 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Researchers from the University of Barcelona, who studied Branyas’s DNA, were surprised by her good health and mental clarity. The oldest verified person ever was Frenchwoman Jeanne Louise Calment, who lived to 122 years and 164 days.