Maria Branyas: World's oldest person dies peacefully in sleep aged 117, her family announce

The world’s oldest living person has died aged 117, her family has announced.

Spain ’s Maria Branyas died “peacefully” in her sleep at the Santa Maria del Tura nursing home in the town of Olot, her relatives said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

During her long life, which she attributed in a 2019 interview to an “orderly life … without excesses”, Ms Branyas lived through two world wars, the Spanish Civil War, the 1918 flu pandemic and the Covid pandemic.

In a statement, her family said: “She has died as she wanted: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain.

“A few days ago she told us: ‘One day I will leave here. I will not try coffee again, nor eat yoghurt … I will also leave my memories, my reflections and I will cease to exist in this body.

“‘One day I don't know, but it's very close, this long journey will be over. Death will find me worn out from having lived so long, but I want it to find me smiling, free and satisfied.’

“We will always remember her for her advice and kindness.”

Maria was declared the world’s oldest living woman by the Guinness World Records upon the death of Lucile Randon, of France, who reached 118 years 340 days.

She was born in San Francisco in 1907, but moved with her family to Catalonia in 1915, where she finally settled in Barcelona.

She outlived her husband, who died in 1976, as well as her son, who passed away aged 86.

The 117-year-old previously successfully fought off Covid, contracting the virus after her 113th birthday in 2020, but she fully recovered within days to become the then world’s oldest Covid survivor.

Researchers had previously taken samples of her DNA to analyse in a bid to understand longevity.

Manel Esteller, one of the scientists, told Spanish outlet ABC at the time: “She has a completely lucid head.

“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.

“It is clear that there is a genetic component because there are several members of her family who are over 90 years old.”

Ms Branyas was the 12th oldest verified person in history. The oldest person ever authenticated was France’s Jeanne Calment who lived to the age of 122 years 164 days.

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