The world’s oldest person, Maria Branyas Morera, has passed away at the age of 117, her family announced on social media. Born in the United States, Morera’s death was confirmed by Guinness World Records (GWR) as occurring at 117 years and 168 days old, making her the eighth-oldest person with a verifiable age in history.
“Maria passed away peacefully at the nursing home in Catalonia, Spain, where she had lived for the past two decades,” GWR stated, adding that she died on Monday.
In a tribute posted on her X account, Morera’s family shared that she had “gone the way she wanted: in her sleep, at peace, and without pain.” Just before her death, Morera reportedly said, “I don’t know when, but very soon this long journey will come to an end. Death will find me worn down from having lived so much, but I want it to find me smiling, free, and satisfied.”
Morera was named the world’s oldest living person by GWR in January 2023, following the death of French nun Sister André at 118. Reflecting on her longevity, she attributed her long life to “order, tranquility, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people.” She also noted that “longevity is also about being lucky. Luck and good genetics.”
Born on March 4, 1907, Morera’s life witnessed remarkable historical events, including the Wright Brothers’ first powered flight and the construction of the Titanic. Her early years were marked by her family’s emigration from Spain to the U.S. and back to Barcelona during World War I. Her life also spanned the Spanish Civil War and World War II.
In her later years, despite her advanced age, Morera stayed active on social media with the help of her daughter, communicating with thousands of followers. Her X bio read, “I am old, very old, but not an idiot.”
Morera was also among the oldest people known to have recovered from COVID-19, having tested positive in May 2020. According to the Gerontology Research Group, the title of the oldest living person now belongs to 116-year-old Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka. The record for the oldest person ever is held by Jeanne Louise Calment, who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
