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Maria Giuseppa Robucci
Maria Giuseppa Robucci
Maria Giuseppa Robucci at the age of 115
Birth: 20 March 1903
Poggio Imperiale, Apulia, Italy
Death: 18 June 2019
Poggio Imperiale, Apulia, Italy
Age: 116 years, 90 days
Country: Italy ITA
Validated

Maria Giuseppa Robucci-Nargiso (20 March 1903 – 18 June 2019) was an Italian supercentenarian who, at the time of her death, was the oldest living person in Europe, and the second-oldest validated living person in the world, behind Kane Tanaka.

At the time of her death, Robucci was the third-oldest European whose age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group. At 116 years, 90 days, she remains the second-oldest Italian person ever recorded, after Emma Morano. She was also the last confirmed European person born in 1903, as well as the second to last validated person born in 1903 overall, behind Kane Tanaka of Japan.

Biography

Early Life and Family

Robucci, affectionately known as 'Nonna Peppa', was born in 1903 in Poggio Imperiale in the Foggia province of Apulia region, Italy. Her parents were Antonio and Maria Michela Robucci. On 3 December 1928, she married Nicola Nargiso, who died in 1982. The Nargiso family reportedly suffered financially in the years after World War II.

Robucci and her husband had five children: Angelo, Concetta (who later became a nun named Sister Nicoletta), Antonio, Giuseppe, and Filomena. As of 2015, her son Angelo was still alive at the age of 86.

Later Life and Death

In 2003, Robucci's 100th birthday was featured in a television show called La vita in diretta for the channel Rai Uno. At the time, she was still able to chop wood. At the age of 111, she was still able to walk, but in 2014 she broke her hip after a fall and underwent surgery.

On 26 May 2019, at the age of 116, Robucci voted in that year's European Parliament election. She died in Poggio Imperiale, Apulia, Italy on 18 June 2019 at the age of 116 years, 90 days. She credited her longevity to a good diet, having faith in God, avoiding alcohol, and having a positive mindset.

Longevity Records

Robucci became the oldest living person in both Italy and Europe following the death of 116-year-old Giuseppina Projetto-Frau on 6 July 2018. Following the death of Chiyo Miyako on 22 July 2018, she then became the second-oldest living validated person in the world, behind Kane Tanaka.

On 20 March 2019, Robucci celebrated her 116th birthday, becoming the third Italian person in history to reach this age. On 27 April 2019, she surpassed the age of Giuseppina Projetto-Frau to become the second-oldest Italian and fourth-oldest European person ever recorded. Ten days later, she surpassed the age of Ana Vela-Rubio to become the third-oldest European ever recorded, behind Jeanne Calment, and Emma Morano.

Robucci was the oldest validated person to die in 2019. Following her death, Lucile Randon became Europe's oldest validated living person and Anna Benericetti became Italy's oldest living person.

Gallery

References


Italy's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • TE)

Maria Fionda • Maria Luisa Pepe • Carmela Sansone • Paolina Picchi • Marta Cerruti • Eugenia Raco • Francesco Paba • Maria Irrigato • Francesco Soldati Gabbini • Peppa Ferrante • Giuseppina Misasi • Vincenza Pannuti • Maria Imperiali • Ulrico Miani • Assunta Mazzotta • Caterina Cipolla • Lida Bertonati • Nazzarena Di Leo • Santa Caddeo • Carolina Piatti • Annunziata Di Vincenzo • Luigi Saba • Ida Pietrobon • Giuseppe De Bonis • Cesare Di Claudio • Ottavia Trafeli • Rosalinda Del Duca • Paolo Gioletta • Luigina Pepe • Francesca Adelfio • Domenico Minervino • Maddalena Figone • Maria Sirianni • Giuseppa Spolitu • Chelidonia Merosi-Lollobrigida • Valentino Stella • Eleonora Casagrande • Maria Addolorata de Vitis • Antonio Baldo • Giovanna Lizzio • Antonio Todde • Teresa Fumarola • Giovanni Frau • Virginia Dighero-Zolezzi • Giulia Sani-Casagli • Lorenza Dotta • Maria Negri • Lucia Lauria • Ida Frabboni • Venere Pizzinato-Papo • Stella Nardari-Vecchiato • Maria Redaelli • Emma Morano • Marie-Josephine GaudetteGiuseppina Projetto-FrauMaria Giuseppa RobucciAnna BenericettiValesca TanganelliErminia BianchiniMaria OlivaIda ZoccaratoAngela TiraboschiDomenica ErcolaniClaudia Baccarini

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