Meet the 108-year-old woman who says that the secret to her long life is never having married and never having had children.
Emilia Pires Rocha celebrated her 108th birthday in Montemor-o-Velho, Portugal, on 27th October.
Born on 27th October 1917 in the village of Verride, she spent most of her life living alone and working as a seamstress.
Around two years ago, when she began to lose some of her abilities, she moved to the Santa Casa da Misericordia care home in Montemor-o-Velho, where her brother had already been a resident before his death.
Until the age of 106, Emilia lived independently in her own home. Despite her advanced age, her caretakers say she surprisingly requires very little assistance.
When asked about her secret to her long life, a representative from the institution revealed: “She says the secret is not having married.”
When she first arrived at the home, Emilia was “more independent”, but now uses a wheelchair and her health has become more fragile. A change considered “relatively recent”.
The representative added: “She has lucid moments and others when she doesn’t, she only needs a bit of help.”
The centenarian is regularly visited by her niece, her only remaining family.
The Santa Casa da Misericordia marked her 108th birthday on social media, describing the celebration as “a very special moment” filled with “emotion, affection, and sharing – a true example of vitality and love for life”.
According to Eurostat figures published in March, life expectancy at birth in Portugal stood at 82.5 years in 2023, compared with 81.4 years across the European Union.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below. Story By: Joseph Golder, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: newsX
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