Supercentenarian Profile

Idalina Moniz

Born:

1916-10-28

Ribeirinha (Ribeira Grande), Azores

Portugal

Current Residence:

Ribeirinha (Ribeira Grande), Azores

Portugal

Idalina da Conceição Gonçalves Moniz is a Portuguese supercentenarian.

BIOGRAPHY

Idalina Moniz was born in Ribeirinha (Ribeira Grande), Azores, Portugal, on 28 October 1916. She grew up on a small farm and had a sister, Maria Amélia. Her parents also owned a grocery store. Over the years, however, the farm fell into disrepair. She completed her fourth-grade education and learned embroidery at school, an art she continued to practice well into her centenarian years. She also made lace and other handicrafts. Throughout her working life, she was employed as a domestic worker.

She never married, but reportedly had no regrets about it, once remarking: “Married life costs a lot of money.”

According to her words, one of the best moments of her life was undoubtedly a trip to mainland Portugal with her family. Of all the cities she visited, Lisbon was her favourite. She loved strolling around the city, particularly admiring the nighttime illumination of Terreiro do Paço. She also visited Porto, Braga, and Coimbra, although none of these cities left the same impression on her as Lisbon. She particularly enjoyed the beaches and churches of mainland Portugal as well. Although she visited Spain, she regretted not having had the opportunity to visit Badajoz, as her group had to pack their bags and return to the island.

In her later years, she continued to keep dogs as pets. One of them, Max, lived with her for 17 years. She later got another dog, Mia Bolinha, when she was already a centenarian.

Shortly before her 108th birthday, she was reportedly in good health and had never experienced any serious health problems. She also remarked that she had never been particularly picky about food. Her only regular medication was for high blood pressure. She enjoyed fish and French fries, and bread was also a staple of her diet.

José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Government of the Azores, and Alexandre Gaudêncio, Mayor of Ribeira Grande, attended a celebration marking her 108th birthday on 28 October 2024.

She maintained a lifelong connection to the Church. During her centenarian years, she served as a catechist, sang in the choir at the Santíssimo Salvador do Mundo Parish Church in Ribeirinha, and worked as the priest’s secretary. Although she stopped attending church in person at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she continued to follow Mass on television. Before the pandemic, she had attended Mass daily, later reducing her attendance to Saturdays.

RECOGNITION

Although three people born in the Azores had previously been documented as supercentenarians after emigrating—Alice Sanders, Julia Rose, and Rosa Furtado—Idalina Moniz is the first known person to reach the age of 110 while residing in the Azores.

Her age has not been validated.