Emma Morano, born in 1899, died while resting in her armchair.
Italian Emma Morano, the last known survivor of the 117th century and supposedly the oldest woman in the world, died this Saturday, aged XNUMX, at her home in Verbania, in northern Italy, local media announced.
She was born on November 29, 1899, in the city of Civiasco. Emma ranked first on the list of the oldest people on the planet, drawn up by the American “Gerontology Research Group”.
The elderly woman has been through two world wars, 11 Popes, three kings and 12 presidents.
— She had an extraordinary life and we will always remember her strength to carry on — declared the mayor of Verbania, quoted by the press.
Doctor Carlo Bava told the Associated Press agency, by telephone, that the elderly woman's caregiver called him to say that, on Saturday afternoon, the woman had passed away, while resting in an armchair in her home in Verbania, a city on Lake Maggiore.
Bava said he last visited Emma on Friday the 14th.
— She thanked me and held my hand, as usual — he said.
UNUSUAL DIET
Emma Morano had privileged genetics: her mother died at 91 and some of her sisters became centenarians. But she also credited her longevity to a peculiar diet:
— I eat two eggs a day and that’s it. And some biscuits, but I don't eat much because I don't have teeth – Emma told the “Guardian” last November.
Despite being lucid, the elderly woman spent most of the last year in bed, due to health problems. She was deaf, spoke with difficulty and couldn't see well enough to watch television, so most of the time she was just sleeping or eating.
ATTACKED BY HUSBAND, LOST HER ONLY SON
Emma was a lonely person, and she cherished it. She left her violent husband in 1938, shortly after the death of her only son, still an infant. Since then, she lived alone, working in a jute sack factory to support herself. However, two years ago — so when she was already 115! —, Emma started to have the company of a caregiver.
POR THE GLOBE / WITH INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES
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