BIOGRAPHY

Olyra de Miranda Netto was born in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on 6 September 1912, to parents Renato Telles de Miranda and Ondina Barros de Miranda. She was born at the family home with the assistance of a midwife. She was named after the musical instrument, the lyre. Since her mother was Ondina and her sister Ondilina, her father wanted to continue the tradition of names starting with “O.” According to her, one day he walked past a shop window, saw the lyre, and thought of the name Olyra. She had two brothers, Omar and Renato, with Renato being the only one with a different naming pattern. She attended Souza Lobo School until the fifth grade. Although she admitted she didn’t particularly enjoy studying, she was always diligent about completing her homework. Afterward, her family moved to Sapucaia, and later to Canoas when her father bought a farm there, where they lived for many years. During that time, she took care of her younger brother, Renato. In Canoas, she also sang in the church choir as a chorister.

It was at a dance in Canoas that she met her future husband, Benjamin, who was originally from São Paulo. The two were engaged in 1933. After marrying, the couple moved to Joaçaba, Santa Catarina, where they had five daughters: Maria de Lourdes, Carmen, Ana Lúcia, Elvira, and Noêmia, who passed away at the age of two. In Santa Catarina, her husband held a senior position at Celulose Irani, a company that manufactures and supplies paper products. She was a godmother to many children, some of whom she never saw again later in life. Eventually, they relocated to the state of Pernambuco.

At 110, her hearing had significantly deteriorated, and her voice, though weak, remained clear and confident when she spoke. Despite this being her most significant health issue at the time, she continued to enjoy life—still reading the newspaper, crocheting, occasionally having a glass of beer, and even walking with the help of a walker. By the age of 110, she was a grandmother to 13, a great-grandmother to 16, and a great-great-grandmother to 6, with another great-great-grandchild on the way.

Olyra de Miranda Netto passed away in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on 9 May 2023, at the age of 110 years, 245 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Stefan Maglov, Gabriel Ainsworth, and Filipe Lopes, and validated by LongeviQuest on 9 June 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Olyra Miranda Netto – Uma tataraneta a caminho” – Matinal, 3 September 2022

GALLERY