Eulalia Bravo Bravo, the oldest known living person in Mexico, is celebrating her 112th birthday today in Pachuca de Soto, in the State of Hidalgo.
Eulalia Bravo Bravo was born on 12 February 1913 in Nopala de Villagrán, Hidalgo. After her mother abandoned the family, she was raised by her father, Deciderio Bravo Rivera, in Bhata, Chilcuautla Municipality. Due to his work as a pig farmer, he left Eulalia in the care of his sisters, Trinidad and Maria, in Nopala City. When they married and could no longer care for her, she moved in with her godmother, Victoriana. At age 12, she relocated again to live with her uncle Rodrigo in Dañu, Nopala Municipality.
Eulalia helped her uncle Rodrigo run his grocery store, where she learned basic arithmetic and managed sales. The store later expanded to sell alcohol and functioned as a mail distribution point for the town. Years later, her mother returned, seeking reconciliation, but the family, especially Rodrigo, prevented her from taking Eulalia back. To protect her, they even kept her from attending school, so she learned to read and write through private tutors. She lived and worked with her uncle until age 28, considering him her father. In 1940, she gave birth to her first daughter, Amalia, in Celaya, Guanajuato, and five years later, her second daughter, María del Carmen. She raised them alone, as their father was absent.
A photo of Eulalia taken in early February, still able to walk at nearly 112 years old.
At 30, Eulalia moved to San Luis Potosí with her two daughters and found work in a grocery store. Before leaving, she met Manuel Fernández Medina, a widower who became her suitor, and they maintained a long-distance relationship through letters. After living briefly in Querétaro, she moved to Huichapan, Hidalgo, where Manuel lived. In 1949, they relocated to Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, and married on 29 January 1950. She was 36, and he was 52. They had four children together: Manuel (1950), Raúl (1952), Elena (1953), and Yolanda (1956).
A hardworking woman, Eulalia contributed to household expenses through various jobs, including raising animals, sewing, making mattresses, selling coal, and running a grocery store, which she closed in 1970. In 1979, her children rebuilt their home, where she still resides. After her husband passed away in 1984 at age 90, she continued working to ensure her children had professional careers. She learned sewing and made clothing for her family and for sale. At 100 years old, she stopped sewing upon her doctor’s advice.
Since the passing of Tranquilina Urrutia Roque on 17 March 2024, she has been the oldest (known and documented) living person in Mexico.
LongeviQuest extends warm congratulations to Eulalia Bravo Bravo on her 112th birthday. We sincerely thank the family for sharing the recent photos with us. The featured image was taken in November 2024. Since the birthday celebration will take place a few days after her actual birthday, photos from the event will be added to her directory profile in due course.
