Maria de Jesus
Maria was not only the oldest person for a month after the death of Edna parker, but, she had been the last remaining validated person born in 1893. The Portuguese native died in January 2009 at the age of 115 years, 114 days. Maria had gotten married in 1919 but later on, became a widow in 1951. She also barely ever made use of her marital surname “dos Santos” even while she was married.
With her husband, she had 5 children of which three were reportedly still living at the time of her death. She was also healthy as she only ever had one hospital visit and that was later in life. Maria still worked on land at her home and never lived in a nursing home even in her 100s. While her sight and hearing had taken a turn for the worst she was still able to walk. Maria was a pescatarian, she loved family, sunbathing on the porch, she adored rice pudding.