Maria Branyas, the world’s oldest living person, died in Spain on Monday at the age of 117. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, she was the eighth oldest person in history (with a verifiable age). An optimist and one who avoided negativity, the woman believed that these qualities helped her live a long life.
Maria Branias’ 10 secrets of longevity
The American-born woman attributes her longevity to various factors, such as following orders and optimism.
“Order, peace, good relationships with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity and staying away from toxic people,” Guinness quoted him as saying.
“I think longevity also means being lucky. Luck and good genetics.”
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Branyas spent the last two decades of his life in a nursing home in Catalonia, north-eastern Spain, where he died in his sleep.
“Maria Branyas has left us. She died the way she wanted: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain,” her official X account said, and a spokesperson for the nursing home confirmed the news without giving details.
Branyas, a mother of three, had said on X on Monday that her death was near, saying: “I feel weak. The time is coming. Don’t cry, I don’t like tears… You know me, I will be happy wherever I go.”
His ex’s account is managed by his daughter.
A front row seat to history
Having lived for more than a century, Maria Branyas had the chance to learn about historical events such as two world wars, the Spanish flu, and the recent coronavirus pandemic. In 2020, Branyas, who was 113 years old at the time, beat the coronavirus infection after testing positive for the virus at a retirement home where several other residents had died from the disease. She fought COVID-19 while in isolation.
Branyas moved with her family on a boat to Spain during World War I and witnessed the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918–19 and the Spanish Civil War of 1936–39.
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