Maria Redaelli was born in Inzago, Milan, Italy, on 3 April 1899. In 1974, Redaelli moved to Novate Milanese, Milan, Italy. She was married to Gaspare Granoli until his death. The couple had two children, Luigi and Carla. Luigia was deceased at the time of her death. She also had two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Redaelli was still able to walk some without assistance until shortly before her death. She was also a fan of the Inter Milan Football Club.
Maria Redaelli-Granoli died in her sleep in Novate Milanese, Milan, Italy on 2 April 2013, one day before her 114th birthday. After her death, Emma Morano became Italy and Europe’s oldest living person.
Redaelli’s age was verified by Giovanni Alunni and validated by the GRG on 9 May 2009.
On 23 February 2012, Maria Redaelli became the oldest living person in Italy, after the death of 113-year-old Stella Nardari-Vecchiato. She held this record for slightly over a year before her own death. Redaelli became the oldest living person in Europe on 8 June 2012, following the death of 114-year-old Marie-Therese Bardet, who was a resident of France.
Redaelli is currently the seventh-oldest Italian person ever, and the oldest person ever to be born and die in Lombardy, Italy. She is also the oldest person to ever live in Milan, Italy.