Aída Pizarro Serrano

BIOGRAPHY

Aída Pizarro Serrano was born in Pirque, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile, on 4 November 1912. Out of 14 children born to her parents, she was the last surviving sibling. Raised with a deep devotion to Catholicism, she enjoyed singing in the church choir with her father and sisters, where she learned Latin masses and hymns. As a young woman, she was a committed leader, serving as a catechist and president of the Catholic youth group at her church.

Her father was a renowned folk musician. In her teenage years, Aida and her sister managed a small convenience store, which they successfully grew into a large supermarket. In her twenties, she was given the opportunity to study nursing in Santiago in exchange for overseeing her community’s polyclinic. Proud of this achievement, she completed her degree early and returned to serve her community.

At some point, she married a young businessman, Leoncio, and they settled in Santiago, where they had four children: Leonico, Pilar (deceased as an infant), Guillermo (deceased in 2023), and Ana. She also cared for her godson, Juan, the son of her sister Juana. As of September 2024, she also had 10 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. She always sought to be financially independent, and every summer she and her husband ran a successful watermelon and melon business at their home. A skilled cook, she prepared large quantities of food to share with others. In her later years, she participated in a local parish club, where she enjoyed socializing and engaging in various activities.

As of September 2024, she struggled with mobility, vision, and hearing. Her children assisted with her daily needs, and she enjoyed sitting in her favorite chair overlooking her garden. Her diet consisted of ground foods, and she had a particular fondness for desserts. She received medical and nursing care reminiscent of what she provided at the polyclinic she once cherished.

Her family attributed her longevity to a combination of genetics, a healthy lifestyle, and unprocessed foods. She prepared all her meals from scratch, enjoyed family gatherings filled with singing and dancing, and abstained from smoking and excessive drinking. Her character, strength, and resilience were central to her life, as she was always deeply involved in and supportive of her family, encouraging them to work hard and maintain faith in God.

Pizarro Serrano passed away on 17 November 2024 in Santiago, Chile, at the age of 112 years, 13 days.

RECOGNITION

On 5 March 2024, following the passing of 113-year-old Eudocia Barría Barrientos, she became the oldest (known) living person in Chile, at the age of 111 years, 122 days.

Her age was verified by Fabrizio Villatoro, Dr. Mónica Almonacid, and Gabriel Ainsworth, with the assistance of her family, and validated by LongeviQuest on 12 September 2024.