World’s oldest person dead aged 117: Spanish pensioner Maria Branyas Morera dies hours after sharing final message
Listen to Maria speak about her health and share her secret for a long, happy life in the video above
THE world’s oldest person has died at the age of 117 after sharing a heartbreaking final message.
Spanish pensioner Maria Branyas Morera, who lived through two world wars and two pandemics, passed away “peacefully and without pain”.
Her family announced her passing on X, saying: “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.”
Maria was a huge fan of social media and used to share weekly updates with her 16,000 followers on X.
In her heartbreaking final message on Tuesday, the elderly woman warned that she felt “weak” and that the “time is near”.
The post said: “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.”
Maria scooped the incredible title of the world’s oldest living person after French nun Lucile Randon died aged 118 in January last year.
The pensioner claimed her old age was due to “order” and “tranquillity” as well as always avoiding “toxic people”.
Maria was born in San Francisco in 1907 as the city was battling against a deadly wave of the Bubonic plague.
She went on to survive both world wars after remaining in Spain but also had to contend with the Spanish flu pandemic and the Spanish Civil War.
Brave Maria also survived Covid-19, despite contracting the virus only a few weeks after turning 113.
After spending time in hospital, she made a full recovery within days and was back to living her normal life in a nursing home.
She got married in 1931 to a Catalan doctor named Joan Moret and the pair went on to have three children.
While her husband passed away in 1976, Maria managed to outlive their only son, August, who died in a tragic tractor accident at the age of 86.
She died alongside her daughters, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren in the Santa Maria del Tura nursing home in northeastern Spain.
Maria played the piano from when she was a child to the age of 108 years old when she lost the nimbleness in her fingers.
The time is near. Don’t cry, I don’t like tears. And above all, don’t suffer for me
Maria Branyas Morera
To stay healthy she exercised every morning until she hit 105.
Before her death Maria agreed to undergo scientific testing by researchers who hoped to gain valuable insight into the secrets to long life.
Researchers have collected samples of Maria’s saliva, blood and urine and will compare them with those of her 80-year-old daughter.
Scientists hope that studying Maria’s genes will help with the development of drugs which could combat diseases associated with ageing.
The title of the world’s oldest living person now belongs to Tomika Itooka – a Japanese woman born on May 23, 1908.
It comes as the world’s oldest man tragically passed away in April.
Juan Vicente Perez Mora “transcended into eternity” just two months before his 115th birthday.
He left behind a huge family made up of 11 loving kids, 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.
Juan famously once said the key to his never-ending ageing was a glass of Spanish alcohol known as aguardiente every single day.
The oldest person ever was Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who lived to the impressive age of 122 years and 164 days.
She remains the only human to make it past her 120th birthday.
World’s oldest people
Tomika Itooka – Born on May 23, 1908, in the city of Osaka, she is the oldest validated person living in Japan. she is currently 115 years old.
Inah Canabarro Lucas – Born on June 8, 1908, she is the oldest person currently living in Latin America. Having become a nun in the 1920s, she’s also the oldest living person in this profession. She is currently 115 years old.
Elizabeth Francis – Born on July 25, 1909, he is the oldest known person in the state of Texas. Francis has three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. He is currently 114 years old.
Ethel Caterham – Born on August 21, 1909, she is the oldest person living in the UK and has spent more than the last 50 years living in Surrey, England. She is currently 114 years old.
Okagi Hayashi – Born on September 2, 1909, is the fourth-oldest living person in Japan. Hayashi had 8 children, 22 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. He is currently 114 years old.
