Maria Jorge Esteves de Almeida

BIOGRAPHY

Maria Jorge Esteves de Almeida was born in Tocha, Coimbra District, Portugal, on 28 May 1912. Her parents were Augusto Jorge Esteves and Joaquina Jorge. Her maternal grandparents were Manoel Jorge Cheiroso and Luísa de Jesus, and her paternal grandparents were Francisco Jorge Estêvão and Maria de Jesus. When she was about one year old, her father traveled to Brazil seeking better job opportunities. She remained in Tocha with her mother, maternal grandmother, and aunts for around five years. In 1917, she traveled by ship to Brazil, accompanied by her mother and paternal uncle. In Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, her father awaited their arrival and immediately took them to Minas Gerais, where her paternal uncle Júlio was already settled. From there, she moved with her parents to Pindorama, São Paulo, where she spent her childhood.

Later, she likely attended her first years of schooling at a small local school and received private lessons from tutors, including a memorable woman from Minas Gerais, known as Ambrosina. Later, she continued her education at Santo André College in Jaboticabal, studying as a boarder with French nuns known for their cultural knowledge and academic rigor. Maria studied with them for several years but returned home a year before graduation, longing to be with her parents—a decision she later regretted. Nonetheless, she cherished the education she received, which instilled a lifelong love for reading and writing.

Maria continued her youth in Pindorama and married Raul de Almeida on 11 May 1933. Raul, a native of Monte Alto, was born on 6 March 1912. The couple made their home in Pindorama, raising two daughters, Sylvia and Maria Helena. After many years together, Raul passed away on 10 March 1998. A few years later, Maria moved to Catanduva to live with her daughters, no longer wishing to be alone. Eventually, she settled permanently with her eldest daughter.

At 112 years old, Maria was reported to be frail and experiences moments of lucidity alongside occasional lapses in memory and coherence. She remains free of serious illnesses, though she requires assistance due to age-related challenges like hearing loss, diminished vision, unsteady walking, and a growing dependency on her family for daily needs. In March 2023, however, she attended her great-grandson Raul’s wedding celebration, where she delighted everyone by dancing energetically.

According to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, the secret to her longevity lies in her boundless zest for life, her love of freedom, independence, self-assurance, and her resilient spirit. According to them, her joy is often evident, especially in brief, animated moments, like when she wakes and asks, “Where is everyone? It’s so quiet here.” In those moments, her family feels compelled to create a celebration, to gather everyone, to sing, to dance, and to surround her with the lively atmosphere she loves.