Supercentenarian Profile

Nellie Hernandez

Born:

1915-12-26

Los Angeles, California

United States

Died:

2026-03-12

Los Angeles, California

United States

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Nellie Hernandez (née Ruiz) was an American supercentenarian whose age has been validated by LongeviQuest.

BIOGRAPHY

Nellie Hernandez was born on 26 December 1915 in Wilmington, Los Angeles, California, USA, to parents Candelaria Benabides (1894–1956) and Andres Ruiz (1890–1978). She grew up in Wilmington, Los Angeles, with seven siblings who survived to adulthood: Simona (1914–2005), Andrew (1919–1986), Amanda (1923–2012), William (1925–2010), Candelaria (1926–2022), Irene, and Elizabeth (born 1936). Three of her siblings reached age 85, and her sister Candelaria died at age 95.

She married first Edward James Cruz (1909-1998), and they had three children: James, Betty, and Caroline. She later married Joe Hernandez, and they had three daughters: Kathryn, Cynthia (1954-2015), and Rhonda.

For many years, Hernandez worked at the UCLA hospital until she retired at age 70.

When asked about her secret to a long life, she said that “sleeping well, dancing and being positive, in addition to eating chili, are the essentials in life.”

She passed away on 12 March 2026 in Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 110 years, 76 days.