Rome, Italy — The oldest living nun in Europe, Sister Serafina, passed away on July 17th, at the age of 111 years, 91 days. Her passing was confirmed by Supercentenari d’Italia.
Sister Serafina was born under the name of Anna La Morgia, in Lanciano, a town in Abruzzo’s Chieti province, on 17 April 1913. She had a twin sister, who also became a nun under the name of suor (Sister) Modesta. Her sister died in 2011, at the age of 98. She joined the convent following in the footsteps of her twin. Both sisters joined the Order of the “Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary” (Italian: Suore missionarie dei Sacri Cuori di Gesù e Maria). In the convent, she served as a catechist for children, worked in the kitchen, and cared for entire generations of novices and nuns. In the 1970s, she moved to Rome, where she spent the last 50 years of her life.
On 17 January 2023, following the passing of Lucile Randon, she became the oldest (known) living nun in Europe.
At the time of her passing, she was the second-oldest (known) living nun in the world, after Inah Canabarro Lucas of Brazil. She was also the second-oldest (known) nun ever to have died in Italy, after Marie-Josephine Gaudette.
LongeviQuest sends our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends of Sister Serafina.
