| Hanna Barysevich | |
 | |
| Birth: | 18 May 1888? Buda, Minsk Oblast, Russian Empire (now Belarus) |
| Death: | 23 February 2007 Minsk, Belarus |
| Age: | 118 years, 281 days? |
| Country: |  BLR
|
| Longevity claimant | |
Hanna Barysevich [Belarusian: Анне Борисевич; Polish: Anna Borysiewicz] (5 May/18 May 1888? – 23 February 2007), was a Belarusian longevity claimant whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). She claimed to be the world's oldest person, having allegedly been born in 1888.
Biography[]
Hanna Barysevich claimed to have been born in Buda, Minsk Oblast, Russian Empire (now Belarus) on 5 May 1888. Assuming the 5 May 1888 date is in Old Style, her birthdate would be 18 May 1888 by modern standards. Her birthdate was also given as 1 July 1888 in at least one article.
Barysevich was born in a family of poor peasants. When she was a child, she had to work hard, and had only one skirt. She can remember stories about the two world wars, the two 1917 revolutions, and the rise and fall of communism. Like many old people in Belarus, she spoke a kind of trasianka (a mix of Belarussian and Russian).
In May 2004, Barysevich celebrated her claimed 116th birthday, and made international news. In August 2005, at the claimed age of 117, she underwent a cataract operation to restore her eyesight.
Hanna Barysevich died in Minsk, Belarus on 23 February 2007 (27 February according to other articles), at the claimed age of 118 years, 281 days.
Age Issues[]
It seems the only evidence of her age is her passport. When asked about applying to Guinness World Records, Barysevich stated that she hadn't thought about it.
References[]
- Ровесница трех веков Новости Беларуси, 25 February 2004
- Woman celebrates 116th birthday The Himalayan Times, 7 May 2004
- Самая старая женщина земли живет в Белоруссии BBC News, 31 May 2004
- Старейшая жительница Белоруссии обрела зрение в 117 лет Время новостей, 22 August 2005
- Самой старой жительнице Беларуси исполнилось 118 лет БЕЛОРУССКИЕ НОВОСТИ, 6 May 2006 (Archived)
- W wieku 118 lat zmarła najstarsza mieszkanka Białorusi Wiadomości, 27 February 2007 (Archived)