BIOGRAPHY

Maria Quiteria Matilda D’Souza was born on 25 October 1911 in Calangute, Goa, India (then a Portuguese colony). She attended the St Teresa’s School in Mumbai until she was 15 and then studied at English Finishing School in Girgaum

On 15 May 1931, she married Joseph G. D’Souza. Her husband worked for the Indian Railways, and they traveled a lot across the country. The couple had four children. Her husband died around 20 years after the marriage. After her husband died, she resided in London for some time, where some of her descendants lived. She eventually returned to Goa, but kept visiting the relatives in London, with her last visit being in 1999.

In 1973, she became the first president of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) in Calangute, that helped the poor to get medical care. She was able to speak English and understand Portuguese – but didn’t like to speak it.

Matilda D’Souza passed away in Calangute, Goa, India, on 17 September 2023, at the age of 111 years, 327 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Stefan Maglov and Jeffrey Xu, and validated by LongeviQuest on 12 March 2023, becoming the second validated supercentenarian who resided or died in India, after Lourdina Conceição Lobo, also from Goa.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Herald: Goa’s Oldest Resident, Matilda D’Souza, Passes Away” – O Heraldo, 18 September 2023

GALLERY