BIOGRAPHY

Borchi was born in San Baronto, a small mountain village in Tuscany, Italy, on 29 April 1906. As a young adult, she moved to Faltognano, another small Tuscany village, to work in service for a local family. She met her husband, Eli Verdiani, shortly after her arrival.

After their marriage, the couple moved to Borchi’s hometown, San Baronto. Their only son, Giuseppe, was born in 1934. Verdiani died at the age of 42, leaving Borchi a widow.

Borchi’s son, Giuseppe, moved to England and lived there for many years. In his mother’s later life, however, he would spend six months living with her, followed by six with his family in England.

For her 110th birthday, Borchi’s great-grandson Luca, then aged 7, sent a letter to HM Queen Elizabeth II, who then sent Borchi a card congratulating her on attaining supercentenarian status. She reported that her secret to longevity was “I have always worked the land, with great patience and dedication and I have always eaten the healthy foods that I produced myself.”

Borchi died in Lamporecchio, Tuscany, on 6 December 2016 at the age of 110 years, 221 days. She was survived by her 82-year-old son Giuseppe and her English descendants.

RECOGNITION

Borchi’s age was verified by Paolo Scarabaggio and validated by the ESO on 2 August 2021.

ATTRIBUTION

• Nonna Rita ha 110 anni: per lei gli auguri della regina Elisabetta – VIDEO

• Addio a Rita Borchi, la più anziana in provincia

GALLERY