Maria Farrugia, the oldest living woman in Malta, and the nation’s longevity recordholder, passed away on 23 December, at the age of 112 years, 291 days.
Farrugia was born as Maria Galea in Mosta, a city in Malta’s Northern Region, on 7 March 1912. Including an older brother George, she had five siblings, some of whom died young. She grew up in the town of Msida, Central Region. Her mother lived to be 100 years old.
Farrugia married and had three children: Josephine, Angelo, and Carmen. Both Josephine and Angelo died at the age of five. During World War II, she and her family relocated to Hamrun, Southern Region. One of her siblings died during one of Malta’s first air raids at the age of 37. She was widowed in 1962.
Throughout her life, Farrugia worked as a seamstress, as well as crocheting blankets and selling goat’s milk. Her hobbies included cooking and playing bingo. She is a devout Catholic, and recites the rosary every night.
On 8 December 2021, at the age of 109 years, 276 days, she surpassed the final age of Connie Galea (1890–2000), becoming the oldest known person ever in Malta. Three months later, she became the first person in the country to achieve supercentenarian status. She went on to turn 111 in 2023, and 112 in 2024.
The Maltese media, however, reported that the country’s former oldest person was Ġanni Schembri, a man who passed away in the 19th century (7 March 1757? – 2 July 1868). His reported age of 111 years and 117 days, however, has not been validated. As a result, Farrugia remains the only validated supercentenarian to have died in Malta.
The featured image was sourced from: Times of Malta
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Maria Farrugia during this difficult time.
