Supercentenarian Profile

Isabel Maya Márquez

Born:

1916-02-25

Aroche, Huelva, Andalusia

Spain

Current Residence:

El Campillo, Huelva, Andalusia

Spain

Isabel Maya Márquez is a Spanish supercentenarian.

BIOGRAPHY

Isabel Maya Márquez was born in the municipality of Aroche in the province of Huelva, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain, on 25 February 1916. Her parents were Manuel and Bernardina. She was orphaned at the age of 7, and her uncles took her to El Rosal de la Frontera. Later, when she turned 15, they sent her to work for local landowners until she married.

She then found herself caught up in the Spanish Civil War, during which her husband was sent to the front. She stayed behind with her in-laws and sister-in-law, already caring for two children. Within a span of three months, both her father-in-law and brother-in-law were killed, although her husband eventually returned. During the difficult post-war years of famine, she traveled to Portugal to buy flour. While there, guards arrested her and held her in jail for four days, until a lieutenant from El Rosal secured her release. As soon as she was freed, she returned to work.

By 1950, Isabel was working in the fields and had four children. Her husband had begun working in the Riotinto mines, while she cleaned houses and did laundry for wealthy families on weekends. In total, she had six children.

At the age of 110, she had 15 grandchildren, and 27 great-grandchildren.