Maria Branyas, born in 1907 in San Francisco, has become the oldest person in the world and the eighth longest-lived person in history, now aged 117 years and 138 days. According to the Gerontology Research Group (GRG), she has surpassed Italy’s Emma Morano, who passed away in 2017.
Maria Branyas, of Catalan descent, moved to Catalonia with her family in 1914 amidst the First World War. She has lived through significant historical events, including the Spanish Civil War and both World Wars. In May 2020, at 113 years old, she became the oldest known person to survive Covid-19.
Maria’s fascinating life journey includes moving within the United States to Texas, then New Orleans, and eventually settling in Catalonia. She married Joan Moret in 1931, worked as a nurse during the Spanish Civil War. In her 90s she even explored Egypt, Italy, the Netherlands, and England.
Life in Olot
For the past two decades, Branyas has resided in the Santa Maria del Tura nursing home in Olot, Catalonia. On January 17, 2023, following the death of 118-year-old Frenchwoman Lucile Randon, Branyas was officially recognised as the world’s oldest person.
Celebrating a milestone
To celebrate her incredible milestone, Branyas was honoured with a small celebration at the nursing home, joined by family, friends, and staff. Her daughter, Rosa Moret, mentioned that while Maria’s health has declined somewhat in recent months, she remains free of major illnesses. Despite her record-breaking age, Maria dismisses the significance of such records, considering them “nonsense.”