BIOGRAPHY

Anna Benericetti was born in Brisighella, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, on 22 March 1906. As a child, she attended elementary school for a few years, though not without challenges. After her family moved to Montecchio, she had to walk along rugged roads with ravines just to reach the school. In 1928, she married Cesare Cimatti. During the Second World War, her husband was called to serve and spent three years fighting in Yugoslavia, leaving her at home with their three children. Their fourth daughter, Marta, was born after his return.

In 1963, she moved to Forlì, where she spent more than 50 years of her life. Yet she never forgot her hometown, which she fondly described as “beautiful and had good air.”

She led a simple, healthy life, devoted to working in the fields, tending to animals, and spinning and weaving cloth. Until her final days, she remained deeply faithful, listening to two Masses each day—one on the radio and one on television.

From 2013 to at least 2017, Anna underwent a series of medical examinations, including pulmonology, ophthalmology, and cardiology visits, as well as blood tests and venous Doppler ultrasounds.

After a fall in 2014 that resulted in a fractured femur, her mobility significantly declined, leading to the need for a walker. Despite her reduced ability to communicate, her responses remained logical and relevant.

At 113, despite the typical ailments of old age—such as impaired vision and hearing, a fractured femur, and the need for a wheelchair—she had only visited doctors a handful of times in her life, aside from routine check-ups. At the time, she had eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Benericetti passed away in Forlì, Emilia-Romagna, Italy, on 11 December 2019, at the age of 113 years, 264 days. According to her daughter, she was taken to the hospital with a cough just a day before her passing.

RECOGNITION

On 18 June 2019, following the passing of Maria Giuseppa Robucci, she became the oldest living person in Italy, at the age of 113 years, 88 days. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Valesca Tanganelli.

Following the death of Renata Bianchi on 4 October 2019, she became the last surviving Italian person born in 1906.

Benericetti’s age was verified by Paolo Scarabaggio and validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 16 January 2020.

ATTRIBUTION

* “I 111 anni di Anna, l’università la studia per capire il suo segreto” – il Resto del Carlino, 31 March 2017

* “Centenari, è Anna di Forlì la più longeva” – il Resto del Carlino, 6 July 2019

* “Anna Benericetti morta, Brisighella dice addio alla nonna d’Italia. Aveva 113 anni” – il Resto del Carlino, 12 December 2019

GALLERY