BIOGRAPHY

Elia Concari was born in San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore, Abruzzo, Italy, on 14 July 1905. She had two brothers and two sisters and was the eldest of the three sisters. At some point, she got married and had four children—Giampiero, Sergio, Claudio, and Giuliano. Her youngest son was born when she was 45 years old. Before settling permanently in Pavia in the late 1950s, she worked as an elementary school teacher in various parts of Italy—from Alto Adige to Calabria, including a period in Cremona. In 1995, she lost her husband, Simeone Zanchi, a retired labor inspector.

On her 100th birthday, the Municipality of Pavia—represented at the time by councilors Giuliano Ruffinazzi and Francesco Brendolise—awarded her a commemorative medal, along with the other five surviving individuals born in 1905. Until the age of 102, she spent her summers vacationing in Pietra Gavina, where she was well known for her beautifully crocheted doilies. At 110, her eyesight had reportedly declined, but she continued to read the newspaper.

RECOGNITION

Concari’s age was verified by Paolo Scarabaggio and an anonymous researcher, and was validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 20 January 2020.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Elia compie 110 anni: ex maestra, la regina dei centenari pavesi” – La Provincia Pavese, 14 July 2015

* “Muore a 112 anni la più anziana tra le donne pavesi” – La Provincia Pavese, 4 August 2017

GALLERY