Maria Branyas Morera, the world's oldest known person, has passed away at the age of 117. Born in San Francisco on March 4, 1907, Maria lived through massive historical events including two world wars, the Spanish Civil War, the 1918 flu pandemic, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
She spent her final years in the Santa Maria del Tura nursing home in Olot, northeastern Spain, where she had resided for the past two decades.
Maria's family announced her peaceful passing on social media platform X, stating, "Maria Branyas has left us. She died as she wished: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain."
Her longevity was officially recognized by Guinness World Records in January 2023, following the death of French nun Lucile Randon at the age of 118.
Despite her advanced age, Maria remained mentally sharp and free from cardiovascular disease, a common ailment among the elderly. Her daughter, Rosa Moret, attributed her mother's long life to genetics, noting that Maria had never been hospitalized or broken any bones.
Maria herself believed her longevity was due 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."
Maria's life was marked by both triumphs and tragedies. She lost her father to tuberculosis during their voyage back to Spain from the United States in 1915.
She married Joan Moret in 1931 and had three children, 11 grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren. Her remarkable life and wisdom will be remembered by many.
Following Maria's death, the title of the world's oldest living person now belongs to Japan's Tomiko Itooka, who is 116 years old.
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