Maria Branyas Morera, the world’s oldest person, passed away at 117 years old. A Spanish grandmother, Maria lived through two pandemics and two world wars. Her family announced her death on X, stating, “Maria Branyas has left us,” and shared that she passed “peacefully and without pain.”
Maria, an active social media user with 16,000 followers, shared her final message, saying, “The time is near. Don’t cry; I don’t enjoy crying. Above everything, please do not suffer for me. I’ll be happy wherever I go.”
Born in San Francisco in 1907, Maria survived the Spanish flu, the Spanish Civil War, and even COVID-19 at age 113. She lived in a nursing home in Spain, surrounded by her family, including three children, eleven grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Maria attributed her long life to avoiding “toxic people” and living in “order” and “tranquility.” Researchers have collected samples from Maria and her 80-year-old daughter, hoping to uncover the secrets to longevity.
She is succeeded by Tomika Itooka of Japan, born on May 23, 1908, now the world’s oldest person.
