Marta Rojas Arrieta

BIOGRAPHY

Rojas Arrieta was born in Santa Cruz, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, on 30 July 1915. She lost her mother at the age of one and was taken in by a neighbor who raised her during her early years until her grandmother Vitalia took over her care. Her grandmother was the one who taught her all the prayers she continued to use even as a centenarian before dawn. The first prayer she learned was the Holy Rosary. Her grandmother also instilled in her discipline, devotion, and order. As a child in sixth grade, she contracted an infectious illness. She mentioned that at one point, she lost consciousness and her sight, and was very close to dying, according to the doctor who examined her. They even came to take her measurements for a coffin because they thought she wouldn’t survive. For an entire week, she didn’t speak or open her eyes. To everyone’s surprise, she woke up and said, “Saint Anthony.” Her family attributed her recovery to a miracle because they had no other explanation.

At some point, she married Fabio Carmona Briceño, and the couple had three children. Her husband passed away around 1992.

At the age of 106, she had a living daughter, six living grandchildren (two had already passed away) and 13 great-grandchildren. She attributed her longevity to an orderly and methodical life, combining a very healthy diet based on corn, regular physical activity, deep spirituality, and dozens of people—family, friends, and neighbors—willing to support and care for her with affection.