A 115-year-old woman living in Spain has become the world’s oldest person following the death of French nun Lucile Randon.
Maria Branyas Morera from Olot, Catalonia, took over when Lucile – also known as Sister Andre – died on 17th January aged 118.
Maria – who lives in the Santa Maria del Tura d’Olot old people’s home – is said to be in good health.
Her family is reported to be planning a private party for her to celebrate her milestone, recognised in the Guinness World Records.
Maria was born to Catalan emigrants in San Francisco, USA, on 4th March 1907.
The family returned to Spain when she was seven years old.
She still remembers World War I and the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), media in Spain reported.
Her family has opened a profile on Twitter for her – @MariaBranyas112 – where they tell anecdotes from her life, such as her great passion being the piano.
They also reveal the secret to her longevity – a healthy diet and “order, tranquility, good connection with family and friends”.
Maria played piano from when she was a child to when she was 108 years old, when she lost the nimbleness in her fingers.
In one tweet, Maria – a dog lover – recalls all the pets she has cared for over the years.
In her Twitter bio, she humorously writes: “I’m old, very old, but not stupid.”
It is not the first time the OAP has hit headlines.
In 2020 – during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic – she became the oldest person in Spain to recover from the virus.
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Story By: William McGee, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
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