MADRID: The world’s oldest living person, Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera, who was born in the United States (US) and lived through two world wars, has died at the age of 117, her family announced on Tuesday.
The Spanish-American centenarian died peacefully in her sleep, her family confirmed through a post on social media platform X.
Branyas, who had been residing in the Santa Maria del Tura nursing home in Olot, northeastern Spain, for the past two decades, was celebrated for her longevity and resilience. Born in the United States, she lived through two world wars and witnessed profound historical changes throughout her lifetime.
Her family shared the news with heartfelt tributes, stating, “Maria Branyas has left us. She died as she wished: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain. We will always remember her for her advice and her kindness.”
Just hours before her passing, Branyas had expressed her sentiments in a social media post, indicating that she felt “weak” and preparing for her departure. “The time is near. Don’t cry, I don’t like tears. And above all, don’t suffer for me. Wherever I go, I will be happy,” she wrote.
Branyas was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest person in January 2023, following the death of French nun Lucile Randon, who was 118 years old.
With Branyas’s passing, the title of the world’s oldest living person now belongs to Japan’s Tomiko Itooka, born on May 23, 1908, who is currently 116 years old, according to the US Gerontology Research Group.
