BIOGRAPHY

Novara was born in Paceco, a town in Sicily’s Trapani province, on 4 May 1913. She married a man named Ingardia, with whom she had a son, Biagio, and a daughter, Giuseppa. She worked in the countryside for several decades and was widowed in the late 1990s.

As a centenarian, Novara lived a peaceful life and still lived independently at the age of 106. Aged 104, she was reported to be the oldest resident of Paceco.

Novara’s son died on 30 September 2022. At the time of her 110th birthday, she had one living child, along with two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Maria Novara passed away in Paceco, Trapani, Sicily, on 24 April 2025, at the age of 111 years, 355 days.

RECOGNITION

On her 109th and 110th birthdays, Novara was congratulated by Giuseppe Scarcella, mayor of Paceco.

Her age was validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 28 April 2024.

At the time of her passing, she was the second-oldest living person in the region of Sicily, after Francesca Fioriglio.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Taglia il traguardo di 104 anni nonna Maria” – Trapani Oggi, 4 May 2017

* “Paceco, i 106 anni della signora Maria” – Tp24.it, 4 May 2019

* “Paceco, i 107 anni di nonna Maria Novara” – Tp24.it, 4 May 2020

GALLERY