Maria de Jesus

Maria de Jesus on her 113th birthday

**Maria de Jesus** (10 September 1893 – 2 January 2009) was a Portuguese supercentenarian who was recognized as the world's oldest living person, following the death of American Edna Parker on 26 November 2008, before her own death a little over a month later. She was the last validated living person born in 1893. Her age was validated by Gerontology Research Group (GRG), by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) and by LongeviQuest (LQ).

## Biography

Maria de Jesus was born in Olival, Santarém District, Portugal, as an illegitimate daughter of Joaquina d'Abreu (1870-1955). Her mother lived to the age of 85.

She married in 1919 with José dos Santos and became a widow in 1951, when she was 57 years old. From that relationship, five children were born, three of whom were still living at the time of her death. One of those, a daughter, Madalena, was born on 25 December 1924 and was living with her at time of her death.

She had 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. During her lifetime, she visited the hospital only once and was long in very good health, with the exception of her ambulation. Maria worked on the land for her entire life and still lived in her own house instead of a nursing home, where she woke up every morning at 11AM to do her daily hand exercises.

Although she was still responsive as of November 2008, she could no longer recognize her family, and had serious problems with her sight and hearing, although she was still able to smile and wave at visitors. Despite her worsening cognitive abilities, she still remained unusually healthy for her age, and was able to walk around her home with the aid of a walker. She enjoyed looking through her old family albums, sunbathing at her porch, eating Portuguese rice pudding and ice cream, as well as taking baths. Reportedly, she never smoked or drank alcohol. She also avoided eating meat, preferring to eat fish and vegetables.

Maria de Jesus died in Corujo, Tomar, Santarém District, Portugal on 2 January 2009 at the age of 115 years, 114 days. The cause of death was reported as septic shock. Her death left 114-year-old American Gertrude Baines as the oldest living person in the world and 112-year-old Augusto Moreira de Oliveira as the oldest living person in Portugal.

## Longevity Records

**25 July 2005:** De Jesus becomes the oldest living person in Portugal at the age of 111 years, 318 days after the death of 114-year-old Maria do Couto Maia-Lopes.

**12 August 2006:** De Jesus becomes the oldest living person in Europe at the age of 112 years, 336 days after the death of 114-year-old Frenchwoman Camille Loiseau on 12 August 2006.

**11 June 2008:** At age 114 years, 275 days, De Jesus surpasses Maria do Couto Maia-Lopes as the oldest validated Portuguese person of all time.

**26 November 2008:** Following the death of American Edna Parker, she becomes the oldest living person in the world for the final month of her life, becoming the first and only Portuguese person to ever hold this title.

## Gallery

UndatedMaria de Jesus at age 112Maria de Jesus at age 112Maria de Jesus on her 115th birthday in 2008Maria de Jesus at age 115
## References

* World's oldest person dies at 115, BBC News, 2 January 2009
* Avó mais velha é Portuguesa, Correio da Manhã, 28 November 2008
* Obituary | Blogspot, 20 January 2009
* Maria de Jesus viveu em três séculos e morreu ontem com 115 anos e 114 dias, Público, 3 January 2009