THE world’s oldest person has died at the age of 117 after sharing a heartbreaking final message.
Spanish pensioner Maria Branyas Morera lived through two world wars and a pair of global pandemics with her family revealing she passed away “peacefully and without pain”.
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Her family announced the tragic passing on X, saying: “Maria Branyas has left us. She died as she wished: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain.
“We will always remember her for her advice and her kindness.”
Maria was a huge fan of social media with her even sharing weekly updates with her followers on X.
In her heartbreaking final message on Tuesday, the elderly woman warned that she felt “weak” and that the “time is near”.
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The post said: “The time is near. Don’t cry, I don’t like tears. And above all, don’t suffer for me.
“Wherever I go, I will be happy.”
Maria scooped the incredible title of the world’s oldest living person after French nun Lucile Randon died aged 118 in January last year.
Before her death Maria agreed to undergo scientific testing by researchers who hoped to gain valuable insight into the secrets to long life.
Researchers have collected samples of Maria’s saliva, blood and urine and will compare them with those of her 80-year-old daughter.
Scientists hope that studying Maria’s genes will help with the development of drugs which could combat diseases associated with ageing.
Maria got married in 1931 to a Catalan doctor named Joan Moret as the pair went on to have three children.
While her husband passed away in 1976, Maria has outlived their only son, August, who died in a tragic tractor accident at the age of 86.
She now has two daughters, 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
The time is near. Don’t cry, I don’t like tears. And above all, don’t suffer for me
Maria Branyas Morera
Maria played the piano from when she was a child to the age of 108 years old when she lost the nimbleness in her fingers.
Brave Maria also survived Covid-19, which she contracted only a few weeks after turning 113.
After spending time in the hospital, she made a full recovery within days and was back to living her normal life in the nursing home.
The title of the world’s oldest living person now belongs to Tomika Itooka – a Japanese woman born on May 23, 1908.
The oldest person ever established was Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who lived to the impressive age of 122 years and 164 days.
World’s oldest people
Tomika Itooka – Born on May 23, 1908, in the city of Osaka, she is the oldest validated person living in Japan. she is currently 115 years old.
Inah Canabarro Lucas – Born on June 8, 1908, she is the oldest person currently living in Latin America. Having become a nun in the 1920s, she’s also the oldest living person in this profession. She is currently 115 years old.
Elizabeth Francis – Born on July 25, 1909, he is the oldest known person in the state of Texas. Francis has three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. He is currently 114 years old.
Ethel Caterham – Born on August 21, 1909, she is the oldest person living in the UK and has spent more than the last 50 years living in Surrey, England. She is currently 114 years old.
Okagi Hayashi – Born on September 2, 1909, is the fourth-oldest living person in Japan. Hayashi had 8 children, 22 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. He is currently 114 years old.
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