BIOGRAPHY

Romana de Sousa Marques was born in Casal da Faniqueira, Leiria District, Portugal, on 22 July 1908. She allegedly witnessed the Miracle of the Sun in October 1917 and claimed to have known the three shepherd children who made the prophecy. She had even visited their home in the community of Iria.

Romana met her future husband in Batalha, where he quickly became smitten with her. Determined to marry her, he swore to her father that he would elope with her if permission was not granted. Despite their union, the marriage was marked by prolonged absences, as her husband would often be away for months, only returning briefly before leaving again. During one of his longer stays, Romana discovered she was pregnant. After a challenging three-day labor, she gave birth to a son, whom they reluctantly named Nuno Álvares Pereira, as her husband insisted. Romana supported herself and her son by working as a dressmaker and embroiderer, crafting entire trousseaus to make ends meet. Her husband’s absences were a constant struggle, and it was during one of her attempts to track him down in Porto de Mós that she discovered he had a second family.

Her son died in February 1974 in a plane crash in Africa while serving in the Portuguese Army.

At the age of 103, she was reported to speak with near-perfect lucidity, carry herself with elegance, and exhibit impressive physical dexterity. However, the progressive loss of her vision deeply saddened her.

On her 110th birthday, a celebration took place at the Lar Emanuel residence in Leiria, where she has lived since moving there in 1998. The event was attended by members of the firefighters’ board, the mayors of Batalha and Leiria, and many other friends, all of whom joined together to sing her “Happy Birthday.” Even the President of the Republic sent a special message to mark the occasion. Despite not completing the 4th grade, she was still able to recite poems and engage in thoughtful discussions on topics such as the Republic, God, religion, and the Unknown Soldier.

RECOGNITION

On 14 October 2018, following the passing of 111-year-old Joaquina Martins, she became the oldest (known) living person in Portugal. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Maria da Encarnação Nunes de Sousa.

Her age was validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 25 April 2021.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Retrato de uma senhora aos 103 anos de idade” – Região de Leiria, 22 July 2011

* “Testemunha do Milagre do Sol” – A Nossa Mãe, 7 September 2012

* “Benemérita da Faniqueira completou o 110º aniversário” – Jornal da Batalha, 6 August 2018

* Romana Sousa Marques – Região de Leiria

GALLERY