BIOGRAPHY

Lia Bonà was born in Borghetto Lodigiano, Lombardy, Italy, on 22 September 1906. Her mother, Assunta Silvestrini, was a homemaker, and her father, Pompeo Bonà, worked as a bricklayer. She never married and had no children. She lived and worked in Lecco at a light bulb factory until 1969, before moving to Milan.

Up until the age of 105, she regularly went up and down the stairs to her apartment. However, after an injury (which was treated at home), she began avoiding them. By the time she was 108, she weighed only 27 kilograms. At the time, she resided with her nephew Paolo, who was 84 years old in 2014, and his wife Annamaria, who was a year younger. She never smoked, ate only light meals, and limited herself to one glass of wine a day, which she credited for her longevity.

Lia Bonà passed away in Milan, Lombardy, Italy, on 6 June 2017, at the age of 110 years, 257 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Paolo Scarabaggio, and validated by the ESO on 25 August 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO)

* “Lia, 108 anni: «Sono io la più vecchia di Milano?»” – Corriere Milano, 1 October 2014

* “Il record di “nonna Lia”: 110 candeline” – Il Cittadino di Lodi, 18 November 2016

GALLERY