| Hava Rexha | |
 Hava Rexha with one of her great-grandchildren. | |
| Birth: | 14 August 1880? Shushice (now Elbasan), Ottoman Empire (now Albania) |
| Death: | 8 November 2003 Shushice (now Elbasan), Albania |
| Age: | 123 years, 86 days? |
| Country: |  ALB
|
| Longevity claimant | |
Hava Rexha (14 August 1880? – 8 November 2003) was an Albanian longevity claimant to the oldest living person in the world title whose age is currently unvalidated by the Guinness World Records (GWR). She allegedly lived to the age of 123 years and 86 days, which would have made her the longest-lived person in history, although the record is not certified.
Biography[]
Hava Rexha was allegedly born in the village of Shushice (now Elbasan), Ottoman Empire (now Albania) on 14 August 1880. She was a Muslim and was forced to marry at age 14 with a 60-year-old man.
Rexha spent her whole life doing heavy field work and domestic tasks (grazing livestock, raising children) without ever taking a break. As a Muslim, she never touched alcohol, although she smoked, drank coffee and she liked butter. She gave birth to six children, but four died in childhood. Her husband died in 1950 at the alleged age of 116.
Hava Rexha died in Shushice (now Elbasan), Albania on 8 November 2003, at the claimed age of 123 years, 86 days. She was buried near the grave of her husband. Hundreds of people attended the burial to present their respect to relatives.
Age Issues[]
Hava Rexha's age never was certified by Guinness World Records. No early-life proof of birth has been located. The date of birth was documented for the first time in a family certificate issued by the Albanian Communist authorities in 1946, which is a mid-to-later-life document (1946-1880=66), at which point age inflation is possible.
If the Guinness Book authorities certify the authenticity of their documents, she would enter the book of records as the oldest person in history, surpassing Jeanne Calment, who died in August 1997, at 122 years and 164 days.
References[]
- Hava Rexha Find A Grave
- 1894 wedding still rankles with Albanian woman Dawn, 10 July 2002
- Albania Oldest Woman APTN, 24 August 2002 (AP Archive)
- Albania's oldest woman dies, aged 123 ABC News, 10 November 2003