BIOGRAPHY

Ana Rita Rojas was born in Jericó, Antioquia, Colombia, on 31 March 1910 (claimed 1 May). She was born to parents Fidelino Rojas and Mercedes Morales Bedoya. When she was a toddler, she moved with her family to Apía, Risaralda. Her siblings were Francisco, José, Gabriel, Miguel and Sofia.

At some point, she married Adalberto Duque. The couple had no children, but she helped her siblings to raise their children. She worked as a telegraphist. Both her husband and father were murdered during ”La Violencia” in the 1950s.

At the age of 103, she left Apía and moved to the city of Pereira. At the age of 110, she was still able to walk while assisted and she was still mentally sharp.

Ana Rita Rojas passed away in Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia, on 23 August 2020, at the age of 110 years. According to her family, she had a ”prodigious memory” till her last day.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Stefan Maglov and Santiago García Medina, and validated by the LAS on 29 September 2021.

At the time of death, she was the oldest living person in the Risaralda Department.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY