Supercentenarian Profile

Elvira Bravi

Born:

1916-06-12

Falerone, Marche

Italy

Current Residence:

Falerone, Marche

Italy

Elvira Bravi is an Italian supercentenarian.

BIOGRAPHY

Elvira Bravi was born in Falerone, Marche, Italy, on 12 June 1916. Born into a family of sharecroppers and the second of three sisters, Elvira lost her father at the age of five when he was killed in a farming accident. Her mother raised the three girls alone, instilling in them the values of hard work and resilience.

By the age of 10, Elvira was already working in the fields. During the winter months, she supplemented the family’s income by making trousseaus for women in the village. She often recalled that knowing how to weave was essential for survival during a time of widespread poverty. Over the years, she became highly skilled in the craft and was frequently invited to demonstrate traditional weaving during the Festa della ‘Nzegna, the historic peasant reenactment held in Falerone.

She married young and gave birth to her son, Maurizio. Tragically, she was widowed at a young age and assumed sole responsibility for raising and educating him. Maurizio studied at the seminary in Fermo before earning a degree in chemistry, but he too predeceased his mother. After his death, Elvira helped raise his two daughters.

When asked about the secret to her longevity, she replied: “A life of hardship, a frugal diet, and never any medicine.”

On her 110th birthday, she was visited by the Mayor of Falerone, Armando Altini, and Deputy Mayor Pisana Liberati, who presented her with a commemorative plaque in recognition of this remarkable milestone.