SOCIETY
Oldest person in the world dies aged 117
Spanish woman María Branyas, who was born in San Francisco, is the eighth oldest person ever to have lived according to official records.
The Gerontology Research Group (GRG) is responsible for verifying birth and death dates for the Guinness World Records longevity list, and this past May, they confirmed that María Branyas was the eighth person to have lived the longest. She was, until now, the only person in the ranking who was still alive.
Where was María Branyas on oldest ever list?
Branyas, aged 117 and 168 days, passed away in the town of Olot, surrounded by her family. She held the record for being the oldest person alive and also ranked eighth in the all-time longevity records.
According to her family, “she died as she wanted: peacefully, in her sleep, and without pain,” as they informed her more than 18,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), where the family shared updates on her life, reflections, and well-being. Her account name was ‘Super Catalan Grandmother.’
“You know me well – wherever I go, I will be happy”
Just a day ago, her family shared her final reflection on social media.
“I feel weak. The time is near. Don’t cry; I don’t like tears. And above all, don’t suffer for me. You know me well – wherever I go, I will be happy, because in some way, I will always carry you with me.”
Branyas was born in March 1907 in San Francisco, United States. After living in both Texas and New Orleans, the family decided to return to Catalonia in 1915, during the First World War. She recounted that during the journey, they had to avoid German bombings in the North Sea.