World’s Oldest Living Sisters validated at 110 and 109 respectively

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of the world’s oldest (known) living sisters.

As of 1 March 2024, Mrs. Gracia dos Santos Pinto (born 4 September 1913), aged 110 years, 179 days, and her younger sister, Ms. Rosa Santos (born 7 February 1915), aged 109 years, 23 days, hold the title for the world’s oldest known pair of living siblings. Their combined age totals 219 years and 202 days.

Their mother, Carolina, arrived in Taubaté in 1891 at the age of 5. She was born in Lombardy, Italy. Their father, Barnabé, was born in Tremembé in 1877. In 1908, the two married and went on to have 8 children. Gracia, born in 1913, was their third child, followed by Rosa in 1915. The two sisters were inseparable and assisted their mother in caring for their 4 younger siblings.

At some point, the family moved to a large house in the city center, constructed by their father. However, with the onset of the Second World War and the passing of their father, new challenges arose. As a result, some family members had to move to the city of São Paulo in search of better job opportunities. Their mother moved to São Paulo with five of her children, while the other three remained in Taubaté.

Eventually, the youngest three siblings pursued higher education and entered the workforce, while Gracia and Rosa remained at home to assist their mother. In Taubaté, Rosa took an embroidery and sewing course, later working from home, while Gracia enrolled in a cutting and sewing program. Upon moving to São Paulo, Gracia found a job at Madame Rosita’s Haute Couture Studio on Avenida Angélica. However, she soon met her husband, moved to another residence, and eventually had a son. Two of their younger sisters rented an apartment close to the school where they taught and settled there. The youngest sister found work in Lucélia and eventually married. Only Rosa and their mother Carolina remained in the family home.

In 1954, their mother passed away, leaving Rosa alone to manage the household. Three years later, when Rosa’s youngest sister welcomed her first child, Rosa went to assist with childcare. Despite intending to return home afterward, her sister insisted Rosa stay with them, as she would otherwise be living alone upon returning to São Paulo.

At some point, Gracia became a widow and moved in with her younger sister’s family. Rosa took care of her brother-in-law until his passing in 2011. From 2011 onward, both sisters relied on a caregiver, and in 2016, they moved into a nursing home.

An interesting fact regarding the sisters is that none of their immediate family members lived anywhere near as long as they have. They have surpassed the lifespans of their siblings, of whom only one reached the age of 90 (their brother Manuel who died aged 92).

However, the sisters do not hold the record for the oldest combined age of two living siblings ever recorded. The record was set by Japanese sisters Kame Ganeko and Kikue Taira, whose combined age was 223 years, 1 day at the time of Ganeko’s passing in 2019.