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Maria Giuseppa Robucci-Nargiso was an Italian supercentenarian who, at the time of her death, was the oldest living person in Europe, and the second-oldest validated living person in the world.
Maria Giuseppa Robucci was born in Poggio Imperiale, Apulia, Italy, on 20 March 1903, daughter of Antonio and Maria Michela di Dio.
She married Nicola Nargiso on 3 December 1928. The couple had five children: Angelo, Concetta (also known as Sister Nicoletta), Antonio, Giuseppe, and Filomena. During the Second World War, her husband was sent to the front, leaving her to care for their young children on her own. He was eventually discharged and returned home to his family safe and sound. Throughout her life, she was active as a trade unionist for 40 years and consistently exercised her right to vote, beginning with the 1946 Constitutional Referendum. Together with her husband, she ran the village bar. She was widowed in 1982.
At the age of 100, she was reported to be fully self-sufficient and still living alone in her childhood home. Her days typically began early in the morning, when she first attended to her personal needs and then went to Mass each day. When asked about the secret of her longevity, she said she did not have an answer. She explained that she had always eaten simple—but wholesome—foods, such as bread and tomatoes.
At the age of 111, she had to undergo surgery for a fractured femur after a fall. It was she herself who encouraged the head of the department to proceed with the operation under spinal anesthesia. The surgery was successful, her rehabilitation was completed, and she was soon able to walk again without any difficulty.
On her 112th birthday, she was named honorary first citizen of Poggio Imperiale and was even awarded the honorary title of mayor. The celebrations included a visit to the bank in the town square, a formal ceremony at the town hall, a Mass celebrated especially in her honor, and a large gathering at the elementary school. Fireworks lit up the sky, and the local administration presented her with 100 red roses. The entire town came together to celebrate her, and she remarked, “Who would have thought, all these people for an old lady? But God wanted me to live longer, and I didn’t want to disappoint Him.”
Even at 112, she had not lost her long-standing habits. She still enjoyed playing cards, singing, and taking walks by the sea. She walked very well, despite having suffered a fractured femur the year before, and she did not wear glasses. At the time, she had eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
At one point, she attributed her longevity to a healthy and disciplined lifestyle, saying: “Eat little and healthily, never a glass of wine, and never a cigarette in my mouth.”
Maria Giuseppa Robucci passed away in Poggio Imperiale, on 18 June 2019, at the age of 116 years, 90 days.
On 31 August 2016, at the age of 113 years, 164 days, she surpassed the final age of Teresa Fumarola, becoming the oldest person ever from the region of Apulia.
On 6 July 2018, following the passing of Giuseppina Projetto-Frau, she became the Oldest Living Person in Europe, and well as in Italy. Upon her own death, she was succeeded by Lucile Randon as the oldest living person in Europe, and by Anna Benericetti as the oldest living person in Italy.
On 22 July 2018, following the passing of Chiyo Miyako (Japan), she became the world’s second-oldest living person, only after Kane Tanaka.
On 27 April 2019, at the age of 116 years, 38 days, she surpassed the final age of Giuseppina Projetto-Frau, becoming the second-oldest person ever to have lived/died in Italy, only after Emma Morano.
On 7 May 2019, at the age of 116 years, 48 days, she surpassed the final age of Ana Vela Rubio (Spain), becoming the third-oldest European ever recorded, behind Jeanne Calment, and Emma Morano.
Her age was validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 29 December 2020.
* “POGGIO IMPERIALE: Compie 100 anni e il paese le fa la festa” – Capitanata, 19 March 2003
* “Auguri Maria Giuseppa” – Poggio Imperiale, 20 March 2009
* “Compie 112 anni Nonna Peppa, la decana di Puglia” – Corriere, 20 March 2015
* “Un dono visibile per la nostra comunità per l’arrivo della super centenaria italiana di 115 anni” – La Gazzetta di San Severo, 24 October 2018
* “La Capitanata in lutto: è morta la ‘nonna d’Europa’ Giuseppa Robucci, si è spenta a 116 anni (e 90 giorni)” – Foggia Today, 18 June 2019
At the age of 111. (Source: InItalia con Virgilio)
At the age of 115. (Source: TgCom24)
At the age of 116. (Source: Sergio De Nicola)
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