Supercentenarian Profile

Esther Doraliza Urgilés Calle

Born:

1898-03-24

Cojitambo, Cañar Province

Ecuador

Died:

2008-04-22

Cuenca, Azuay Province

Ecuador

Esther Doraliza de la Sagrada Familia Urgilés Calle was an Ecuadorian supercentenarian.

BIOGRAPHY

Esther Doraliza Urgilés Calle was born and spent most of her life in Cojitambo, a parish near Azogues in Cañar Province. Although she claimed to have been born on 24 March 1892, research conducted by LongeviQuest suggests that she was more likely born in 1898. She worked in agriculture and performed household chores throughout her life.

She was widowed twice. With her first husband, Antonio Palomeque, she had three children, two of whom died in infancy, while the third became a Salesian missionary and died in 1984. In her second marriage, to Paciente Argudo Pesantez, she had six children, two of whom outlived her: Jaime René and María. After being widowed for the second time, she permanently left her hometown of Cojitambo and moved to Cuenca to live with her daughter, María.

According to her daughter, she had always enjoyed good health. She believed that the peace and quiet, along with the clean air of the countryside, contributed to her longevity. Even in old age, she enjoyed helping with household chores in her daughter’s home. Although her eyesight and hearing gradually deteriorated, she never became completely blind or deaf. Well into her centenarian years, she remained capable of managing her daily activities with ease and continued to follow world events by reading the newspapers. Eventually, she began using a wheelchair, although she made every effort to continue getting around with only a cane for as long as possible.

Esther Doraliza Urgilés Calle passed away in Cuenca, Azuay Province, Ecuador, on 22 April 2008, at the age of 110 years, 29 days (claimed 116 years).