Maria Branyas Morera, the world's oldest living person from Spain, passed on at the age of 117, according to her family's announcement on social media.
Born in the United States and having experienced two world wars, Branyas had resided in the Santa Maria del Tura nursing home in Olot, Spain, for the past 20 years.
Her family shared that she died peacefully in her sleep, fulfilling her wish for a gentle end without pain. They fondly remembered her for her wisdom and kindness. Before her passing, Branyas had posted on social media expressing that she felt "weak" and that her time was near, asking not to be mourned or to have tears shed on her behalf.
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In January 2023, Guinness World Records recognized Branyas as the world's oldest living person following the death of French nun Lucile Randon, who was 118.
With Branyas’s passing, Japan’s Tomiko Itooka, born on May 23, 1908, and currently 116 years old, is now the world's oldest living person, as confirmed by the US Gerontology Research Group.
