BIOGRAPHY

Lavinia Parri was born in Cortona, Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy, on 20 December 1906. She married a man with the surname Faltoni and had children with him.

During World War II, some of her family members and friends were deported by the Nazis. She participated in the 1946 Referendum. She spent most of her adult life near Lake Trasimeno, working in the fields. At times, she would walk from Pietraia to Cortona with a basket of chickens to sell at the market.

At the age of 107, after an accidental fall, she suffered a femur fracture and underwent a complex surgical procedure at a hospital in Perugia. Doctors opted for general anesthesia to repair the compound fracture, and the operation was a complete success. She never smoked or indulged in any vices, maintaining a simple diet with light meals, accompanied by just one glass of wine each day.

In 2015, for her 109th birthday, she received a special visit from Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, Archbishop of Perugia, which was a deeply cherished moment.

At 110, she was reported to be still lucid, lively, and full of grit. However, she passed away on 25 December 2016, just five days after her 110th birthday.

RECOGNITION

On 25 March 2016, then aged 109, Lavinia became the oldest person in Umbria, Italy, following the death of 110-year-old Dante Parlani. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Emma Loreti (14 January 1909 – 7 January 2017).

Parri’s age was verified by Paolo Scarabaggio and validated by the ESO on 27 June 2021.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Auguri alla nonna dell’Umbria” – Perugia Today, 20 December 2016

* “Nonna Lavinia compie 110 anni, è la donna più longeva dell’Umbria” – La Nazione, 21 December 2016

GALLERY