BIOGRAPHY

Onorina Garcia Furtado was born in Piratini, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on 7 February 1915, to parents Juliao and Celina Garcia. She married Gentil Souza Furtado in 1932 at the age of 17 and remained married for 60 years. The couple had nine biological children.

She lived in Piratini until the age of 20 before moving to the Taim region, where she spent another 23 years working on farms. Later, she relocated to the city of Rio Grande, initially settling in the Getúlio Vargas neighborhood, where she lived for 25 years and worked in the fishing and fruit and vegetable industries. In 1985, she moved to another neighborhood.

She stated that her mother, Celina Garcia, lived to be 115 years old and remained lucid until her passing. However, in her final years, she was bedridden.

By the time she reached 100, her family had grown to include nine grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren. Reflecting on her long life, she remarked: “I do everything! I enjoy it, and I want to live as long as God grants me health.”

According to her family, she always led a very active life. Even at 100 years old, she continued to wake up early and enjoyed drinking her chimarrão, followed by coffee. She also loved cooking homemade sweets—ambrosia, potato and pumpkin jam, and peanut rapadura—as well as hearty meals like rich beans, rice, and breaded steak.

Onorina Garcia Furtado passed away in Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, on 9 February 2025, two days after her 110th birthday.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Gabriel Ainsworth, and validated by LongeviQuest on 13 February 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Os 100 anos de vida de vó Nei” – Jornal Agora, 7-8 February 2015

GALLERY