Marija Ruljancic, a Croatian-Australian supercentenarian, celebrated her 110th birthday on 13 June 2023 with her family in Hawthorne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She now has two birthday celebratory messages from monarchs: from King Charles III for her 110th and from the late Queen Elizabeth II on her 100th to 109th. Mrs. Ruljancic is currently the oldest known living Croatian-born person, the oldest living person in Victoria, and the third-oldest known living person in Australia after Catherina van der Linden and Dulcie Fawcett. Her age validation is under review.
Mrs. Ruljancich was born in Vis, Austria-Hungary, (present-day Croatia) on 13 June 1913 from a family of winemakers. However, their family business was ruined by the effects of the 1918 Great Influenza pandemic.
At the age of 19, she married Ivan Ruljancich and have three children, eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. She currently lives with her son, Dr. Kevin Ruljancich, a Melbourne oral and maxillofacial surgeon. His son sacrificed his social life to carefully shield his mother from becoming infected with COVID-19.
She attributes her long life to a healthy lifestyle, which includes abstaining from alcohol and tobacco and eating in moderation.
LongeviQuest sends our warmest congratulations to Mrs. Marija Ruljancic and her family. We wish you good health and happiness.
September 20, 2023
News
