On 29 May 2026, LongeviQuest researcher Iara Souza had the opportunity to visit the world’s oldest living sibling trio, whose combined age is an extraordinary 316 years.
The story of Levita de Deus Nunes (109), Zoraide de Deus Mota (104), and Zulina de Deus Nunes (103), residents of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is, above all, a testament to the enduring bond of sisterhood and the love that continues to flourish across generations.
Levita de Deus Nunes
Levita de Deus Nunes was born on 7 June 1917, and has turned 109 since the visit took place. The second eldest of eight siblings, it was Levita who managed the home, organized the household routine, and cared for the family while her parents worked in the fields. Around 1953, she moved to Rio de Janeiro to support Zulina during the difficult process of adapting to the new city.
Although she never married nor had children, Levita devoted her entire life to her family. She inherited from her mother a talent for handmade crafts and transformed crochet, knitting, and sewing into activities that combined livelihood, leisure, and personal expression. Later in life, she joined Rede Globo Television, where she worked for 12 years.
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- Levita as a young woman.
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- At the of age 30 in Aracaju.
Levita told Iara Souza about her lifelong love of embroidery, a craft she began learning at the age of seven. She especially enjoyed cross-stitching and spoke fondly of the talent that had accompanied her throughout her life. When asked about her favorite foods today, Levita mentioned sorubim and lau-lau catfish.
Zoraide de Deus Mota
Zoraide de Deus Mota was born on 24 November 1921. She graduated as a primary school teacher from the Escola Normal de Aracaju and began her professional journey in São Cristóvão, Sergipe.
In 1944, she moved to Rio de Janeiro in search of new opportunities. In Rio de Janeiro, Zoraide enrolled at the prestigious Anna Nery School of Nursing, where she studied as a resident student and completed her nursing education. Over the years, she built a respected and solid career, working in several hospitals until her retirement. On 6 February 1950, she married Enéas Alves da Mota, with whom she had five children.
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- Zoraide at the age of 25, Teachers’ college graduation ceremony.
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- As a nurse.
In the interview, Zoraide recalled that the family enjoyed high-quality pork in their youth. Their father raised pigs and butchered them himself, selling the meat directly from their home. While much of it was sold to customers, he always set aside the best cuts for his family to enjoy.
Zulina de Deus Nunes
Zulina de Deus Nunes was born on 4 March 1923. From an early age, learned domestic and artisanal skills that would later become fundamental to her survival and independence: sewing, cross-stitch embroidery, and refined handmade crafts.
On 17 July 1945, she married José Benvindo dos Santos, an employee of the former Federal Railway Network. During their marriage, she took responsibility for managing the household and raising their six children while her husband worked traveling the railway route between Aracaju and Salvador.
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- Zulina in 1952, with three of her children.
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- In 1952, Zulina with two of her children when they arrived in Rio de Janeiro.
However, their marriage ended, and she faced one of the most difficult moments of her life. Alone, with small children and no financial stability, she decided to migrate to Rio de Janeiro around 1952 in search of a better future for her family. Upon arriving in Rio de Janeiro, she found fundamental support in Zoraide, who offered her shelter and assistance during the first month.
Over the decades, the sisters’ lives became inseparably intertwined. Levita devoted her life to caring for the family and her nieces and nephews; Zoraide opened paths through education and nursing, welcoming her siblings in Rio de Janeiro; while Zulina transformed manual work into sustenance and opportunity for her children. Each, in her own way, became essential support for the others — offering shelter, protection, encouragement, and love during life’s most difficult moments.
Today, at 109, 104, and 103 years old, they represent not only an extraordinary story of longevity, but also a rare example of family unity that withstood the test of time, as is evident in the video documentary of LongeviQuest’s visit:
