World’s Oldest Person, Maria Branyas Morera, Dies at 117
Maria Branyas Morera, the world’s oldest-known person, has died at the age of 117, her family confirmed Tuesday.
“Maria Branyas has left us. She died as she wished: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain,” her family wrote in Catalan on her account on X on Tuesday. “We will always remember her for her advice and her kindness.”
La Maria Branyas ens ha deixat. Ha mort com ella volia: mentre dormia, tranquil·la i sense dolor.
Fa uns dies ens deia:
“Un dia me n’aniré d’aquí. No tornaré a provar cafè, ni a menjar iogurt, ni a acaronar a la Fada…, deixaré també els meus records, les meves reflexions… 👇
— Super Àvia Catalana (@MariaBranyas112) August 20, 2024
About Maria Branyas Morera
Maria Branyas was born in the U.S. in 1907 and lived through two pandemics, two world wars, an earthquake and a major fire — and retained many memories from her long and eventful life as she grew older.
Speaking to Spanish news outlet ABC in November last year, scientist Manel Esteller said Branyas had “a completely lucid head” despite her age.
“She remembers with impressive clarity events from when she was only four years old, and she does not present any cardiovascular disease, common in elderly people,” he added.
Esteller was studying Banyas to determine her biological age, believing that she was “much younger physically” than her chronological age.
Her Family Life and Legacy
Her family shared Tuesday that the matriarch sensed her death was near, telling them days before she passed: “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 to meet it with a smile, feeling free and satisfied.”
Branyas was born in San Francisco on March 4, 1907. After living for some years in New Orleans, where her father founded a magazine, her family returned to Spain when she was young. Branyas said that she had memories of crossing the Atlantic Ocean during World War I.
At age 113, Branyas tested positive for COVID-19 during the global pandemic, but avoided developing severe symptoms that claimed tens of thousands of older Spaniards.
Her Advice and Legacy
On X, she would post life advice to others asking what her secret was, attributing her longevity to “order, tranquillity, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people.”
Esteller said her family, too, could offer some clues.
Conclusion
Maria Branyas Morera’s life is a testament to the importance of living life with purpose, positivity, and a strong sense of self. Her legacy will live on through the memories of those who knew her and the wisdom she shared with the world.
FAQs
Q: How old was Maria Branyas Morera when she passed away?
A: Maria Branyas Morera passed away at the age of 117.
Q: What was her secret to longevity?
A: Branyas attributed her longevity to order, tranquillity, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people.
Q: What did she do during the COVID-19 pandemic?
A: At age 113, Branyas tested positive for COVID-19 during the global pandemic, but avoided developing severe symptoms that claimed tens of thousands of older Spaniards.