| Ana Vela-Rubio | |
 Vela-Rubio becoming the oldest living person in Europe. | |
| Birth: | 29 October 1901 Puente Genil, Cordoba, Spain |
| Death: | 15 December 2017 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain |
| Age: | 116 years, 47 days |
| Country: |  ESP
|
| Validated | |
Ana Vela-Rubio (29 October 1901 – 15 December 2017) was a Spanish supercentenarian who was the oldest validated person ever to have resided in Spain, until American-born Maria Branyas Morera surpassed her age on 21 April 2023. She still holds the record for being the oldest validated person ever born in Spain.
At the time of her death, Vela-Rubio was the oldest living person in Europe, and was also the third-oldest person in the world whose age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG), after Nabi Tajima and Chiyo Miyako of Japan.
Biography
Vela-Rubio was born in Puente Genil, Cordoba, Spain on 29 October 1901. She was orphaned as a child. As a young woman, she worked in a food store in Malaga, Spain. In 1950, she moved to Barcelona with her partner. She never married her partner because her parents didn't approve of their relationship. They had four children: Carmelita (who died aged 10), Antonio, Ana, and Juan.
In 2005, Vela-Rubio moved into a nursing home in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. She suffered from dementia in her later life. She died on 15 December 2017 at the age of 116 years, 47 days.
Age Records
Vela-Rubio became the oldest living person in Spain following the death of Francisca Garcia Torres on 25 February 2014. She later also became the oldest living person in Europe following the death of Emma Morano on 15 April 2017.
On 6 June 2016, Vela-Rubio became the oldest validated person in the history of Spain, surpassing the previous record of 114 years, 221 days set by Maria Antonia Castro. She held this record until her age was surpassed by American-born Maria Branyas Morera on 21 April 2023, though she still holds the record for being the oldest person ever born in Spain.
On 29 October 2017, Vela-Rubio celebrated her 116th birthday, becoming one of only nine people in the history of Europe to have reached this age.
Gallery
References
- GRG World Supercentenarian Rankings List Gerontology Research Group
- Bondad y alegría, el secreto para vivir 110 años Lavanguardia, 2 November 2011
- El gen Matusalén El Mundo, 27 July 2014
- Ana Vela se convierte a sus 114 años en la más longeva de la historia de España El Pais, 6 June 2016
- Happy 115th birthday to Ana Vela Rubio Spain Buddy, 31 October 2016
- Happy 115th Birthday to Spain's oldest woman ever The Local, 31 October 2016
- Muere la española Ana Vela, la persona más longeva de Europa, a los 116 años El País, 15 December 2017
| Spain's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Josefa Salas Mateo • Policarpa Perez Exposito • Josefa Llovet Llovet • Ramona Agudin-Fernandez • Antonia Diaz Garcia • Soledad Munoz • Salustiano Alvarez • Isabel Guijarro • Telesfora de la Torre-Mendizabal • Paulina Garcia-Lozano • Maria Villar Trespalacios • Aurelio Diaz • A. L. M. • Galo Leoz-Ortin • Maria Antonia Castro • Maria del Carmen Lopez • Gregorio Merino • Gabriela Izquierdo • F. M. M. • Antonio Urrea-Hernandez • Maria Esperanza Onieva • Joan Riudavets Moll • Jorja Hernando • Victoriana Vazquez Barrero • Lucia Madaria-Vesga • Manuela Fernandez-Fojaco • Teresa Dosaigues • Andresa Guerrero-Ortiz • Felipa Gutierrez • Rosa Martinez • Francisco Fernandez • Francisca Garcia-Torres • Ana Vela-Rubio • Magdalena Oliver Gabarro • Josefa Santos Gonzalez • Maria Branyas Morera • Silveria Martin Diaz • Piedad Loriente Perez |