World’s Oldest Person, Maria Morera, dies at 117

Maria Branyas Morera, recognized as the world’s oldest person, has passed away at the age of 117. Her death was confirmed by the Gerontology Research Group and announced in a statement by Guinness World Records on Tuesday.

The statement from Guinness World Records reads: “Guinness World Records is saddened to learn that the world’s oldest person, Maria Branyas Morera (USA/Spain), passed away yesterday, 19 August.
Her death was confirmed by the Gerontology Research Group. Aged 117 years 168 days, she was the eighth-oldest person (with a verifiable age) in history. Maria passed away peacefully at the nursing home in Catalonia, Spain, where she resided for the past two decades.”

Ms. Branyas was born on March 4, 1907, in San Francisco, USA, before her family returned to Spain during her early childhood. At the time of her death, she had been living in a nursing home in the Catalan town of Olot for 23 years.

A message posted on Ms. Branyas’s account on X (formerly Twitter) expressed her peaceful passing: “Maria Branyas has left us. She has gone the way she wanted: in her sleep, at peace, and without pain.”

Reflecting on her long life, the post continued: “I don’t know when, but very soon this long journey will come to an end. Death will find me worn down from having lived so much, but I want to meet it with a smile, feeling free and satisfied.”

Ms. Branyas was recognized as the world’s oldest known person following the death of French nun Lucile Randon in 2023. Throughout her remarkable life, Maria witnessed and lived through significant historical events, embodying a century of resilience and grace.

Her passing marks the end of an extraordinary life, leaving behind a legacy of longevity and wisdom that will be remembered for years to come.