Maria Gomes Valentim
Maria was born in July 1896 in Minas Gerais, Brazil, and died in June 2011, at the age of 114 years, 347 days. Daughter of Washington Gomes da Silva and Iduina Gomes da Silva, her father lived until the age of 99. She married Joao Valentim in 1913 at the age of 17, and they had one son. Furthermore, she became a widow at the age of 50, and her son later died at the age of 75.
Known as ‘Grannie Quita’ to close family and friends, she attributed her longevity to minding one’s own business as well as leading a quiet life. She enjoyed lots of pepper on her food, snacks such as fried bananas, and a nap after lunchtime. She continued being active and running errands to the bakery and the bank until she was 110 years old; even the staff were used to her and created a unique queue just for her. She died of pneumonia at a charity house in Brazil.