BIOGRAPHY

Domenica Ercolani was born in Urbino, Marche, Italy, on 3 July 1910. She married Cristoforo, a station manager. Being a housewife, she took care of her children, but she also liked gardening (she had a vegetable garden and flowers). Her husband died in 1986. Her son Sisto, a doctor, died of a tumour in 1994.

Ercolani celebrated her 110th birthday in July 2020. On 30 March 2021, she received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, making her one of the oldest people to receive it. At the time, she was cared for by her daughter, Alessandra (born 1936), with the help of her grandchildren, Marco and Luca.

Domenica Ercolani passed away in Pesaro, Marche, Italy, on 17 November 2023, at the age of 113 years, 137 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was validated by the ESO on 23 March 2021.

On 7 May 2022, she became the oldest known living person in Italy, following the death of Angela Tiraboschi. She became the oldest known living Italian-born person, following the death of 112-year-old Delio Venturotti of Brazil on 1 June 2022.

On 21 December 2022, at the age of 112 years, 171 days, she surpassed the final age of Serafina Naccarato (1893–2006), becoming the oldest person to ever live in the region of Marche.

Following her passing, she was succeeded by Claudia Baccarini as Italy’s oldest living person, and by Maria Mochi (born 1 January 1914) as the oldest known living person in the region of Marche.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Domenica Ercolani, morta a 113 anni la nonna d’Italia” – Il Resto del Carlino, 18 November 2023

GALLERY