BIOGRAPHY

Cavalli was born in Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy (then Austria-Hungary), on 13 December 1910. She voted in the constitutional referendum on 2 June 1946. Throughout her life, she was described as an exceptional cook and a very religious woman. At some point, she married a man with the surname Balanzin, and the couple had at least one son, Silvano.

In her later years, she had a fondness for sweets, but she adhered to a strict diet consisting of light meals, often accompanied by a glass of wine. She never smoked a cigarette.

Cavalli passed away in Trieste, on 13 January 2022, at the age of 111 years, 31 days.

RECOGNITION

On 19 January 2021, following the passing of Irma Battistella, she became the oldest living person in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Cavalli’s age was verified by Paolo Scarabaggio and validated by the ESO on 10 October 2021.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Cavalli Ved Balanzin Maria” – Necrologie Il Piccolo, 21 January 2022

* “Si è spenta a Trieste a 111 anni la donna più anziana del Fvg” – TriestePrima, 25 January 2022

* “Sopravvissuta a due guerre e tre epidemie, Maria Cavalli ci ha salutato all’età di 111 anni e 32 giorni.” – Facebook (Massimiliano Fedriga), 25 January 2022

GALLERY