BIOGRAPHY

Maria González Rausseaux was born in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, on 10 October 1914. Her father owned a successful bakery and candy shop, where she worked extensively. Together, they produced a variety of sweets, including coconut candy, sweet potato candy, milk candy mixed with guava, and mint balls. During the San Fermín earthquake in October 1918, the house she lived in was made of wood. Though it swayed during the quake, it withstood the shaking and remained standing without collapsing. She learned to dance plena and bomba at around 16 years old and continued dancing throughout much of her life. Her parents hired a local man from the neighborhood to teach her how to dance these traditional styles.

Her first job as an adult was in a factory, where she worked as a seamstress, making handkerchiefs. Later, she held various other factory jobs. Additionally, she ran a boarding house for students from the Mayagüez school. She was married twice. She had at least one daughter, Sylvia Bernat González, with her first husband. Her second marriage was to Tomás Carrero Moreno, and they remained together for about 50 years until his passing. Tomás was a sailor and worked as a cook on ships, a role in which she occasionally assisted him. In addition to his maritime work, Tomás made and sold rooster spurs and also owned a barber shop. The couple raised their family through hard work, never relying on government assistance or living in public housing. In 1969, she moved to Añasco.

In July 2024, she suffered a fall and fractured her left hip. The injury occurred in the morning, and by that night, she underwent surgery to have a rod inserted. The doctor approved the procedure, noting that she could recover well since she had no diabetes or other serious health issues. By the time she reached her 110th birthday, she still enjoyed eating fried foods, including alcapurrias and chicharrón volao. In earlier years, she drank coffee straight from the spout. She maintained good dental health and never suffered from cholesterol or diabetes.

González Rausseaux passed away on 14 November 2024 in Añasco, Puerto Rico, at the age of 110.

RECOGNITION

Her age has not been validated.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Así habló de sus tiempos de juventud María González Rausseaux, quien nació el 10 de octubre de 1914 y cumplió hoy 107 años.” – Conociendo a Puerto Rico, 10 October 2021

* “María González Rausseaux nació el 10 de octubre de 1914 y cumplió hoy 108 años” – Conociendo a Puerto Rico, 10 October 2022

* “María González de Rausseaux nació en #Mayagüez el 10 de octubre de 1914 y cumplió hoy 109 años en Añasco” – Conociendo a Puerto Rico, 10 October 2023

* “María González de Rausseaux nació en Mayagüez el 10 de octubre de 1914 y cumplió hoy 110 años.” – Conociendo a Puerto Rico, 10 October 2024

GALLERY