BIOGRAPHY

Diega Cammalleri was born in Canicattì, Sicily, Italy, on 23 October 1905. Her parents, Calogero Cammalleri (1875–1972) and Maria Di Pasquale (1886–1960), passed away at the ages of 97 (cause unknown) and 73 (due to colon cancer), respectively. She had three brothers. Two of them, Giuseppe and Antonio, were twins born in 1918; both died of colon cancer, in 2000 and 2002 respectively. Her third brother, Luigi (1914–2001), died in a traumatic accident. Her younger sister, Filippa Cammalleri (12 December 1911 – 6 July 2018), lived to be 106.

Diega earned a high school diploma qualifying her as a primary school teacher, while her younger sister, Filippa, completed only a primary school education.

On 18 July 1975, she was awarded the First-Class Diploma of Merit for eight decades of outstanding service in elementary education. On her 111th birthday, she received the honor of Cavaliere dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana (Knight, 5th Class) from President Sergio Mattarella.

She never married and was affectionately known to all as “Aunt Dede.” Neither Diega nor her sister Filippa ever smoked. They typically slept five to six hours per night and were treated with antihypertensive medications, diuretics, and antiplatelet agents. Diega suffered from macular degeneration. Both experienced arthrosis and osteoporosis. Regarding their diet, the sisters did not strictly follow the Mediterranean diet, though they regularly consumed cereals such as pasta, as well as extra virgin olive oil, milk, and fruit. However, their intake of vegetables was low, while their consumption of sweets, eggs, and potatoes was relatively high.

Diega Cammalleri passed away in Canicatti, Sicily, Italy, on 15 June 2019, at the age of 113 years, 235 days.

RECOGNITION

On 1 January 2019, following the passing of Mariannina Genovese (who was eight days older), she became the oldest living person in Sicily, at the age of 113 years, 70 days. Nine days later, on 10 January, she surpassed Genovese’s age, becoming Sicily’s oldest person ever.

Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Maria Oliva as Sicily’s oldest living resident.

Cammalleri’s age was verified by Alessandro Delucchi and Paolo Scarabaggio, and was validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 18 January 2020.

ATTRIBUTION

* “The Phenotypic Characterization of the Cammalleri Sisters, an Example of Exceptional Longevity” – CNR Iris

* “Maestra di 111 anni di Canicattì diventa Cavaliere della Repubblica” – Giornale di Sicilia, 1 February 2017

* “È morta a 113 anni l’agrigentina Dedè: era la seconda più anziana d’Italia” – Giornale di Sicilia, 16 June 2019

GALLERY