BIOGRAPHY

Teresa Fernandez Casado was born in Zambroncinos del Páramo, in the municipality of Zotes del Páramo of Castile and León, Spain, on 29 July 1913. She was the youngest of eight siblings. As a child, she took care of sheep but also attended the village school, where she learned to read and write. She always loved dancing. As a child, she would dance in the street because there were no dance halls at the time. In her youth, she had an accident at work involving a hoe, where a splinter flew off and caused her to lose much of the vision in one eye.

At the age of 18, she married Julián de Paz Casas, a young man from the village. The following year, her first-born son, Ángel, was born, and her second son, Amancio, was born in September 1933. After the birth of their third child, her husband was called to war, but due to certain circumstances, he did not have to go. They later had six more children. They had a total of nine children. Two of her children passed away in childhood. To support her family, she made cheese from sheep’s milk, knitted woolen socks, and sewed clothes for her children using her sewing machine.

At the age of 110, she was hardly taking any medication. At that time, her children mentioned that she had once overcome a severe medical condition, during which the family had almost lost hope for her recovery, but she managed to pull through. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, she used to spend a few months with each of her children. However, during the pandemic, they decided it was better for her to stay in one house with one of her daughters. Prior to that, she had been able to spend time in Toledo, Barcelona, Lloret de Mar, Madrid, and other places.

At the time of her 111th birthday, six of her children were still alive: Ángel, Amancio (both in their early 90s), Felicísima, Ausibio, Manuela and Rosalina. At the time, she also had 11 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandson who was about to turn 2 years old. Her 111th birthday was celebrated with a small gathering of family members on July 28th. However, the party on July 29th was more crowded and even included some of her great-grandchildren. Her youngest daughter, Rosalina, mentioned that her mother still spent time with friends every day. One of these friends was her neighbor across the street, who was 103 years old at the time.

RECOGNITION

On 28 December 2023, following the passing of 111-year-old Ángeles de la Fuente Campo, she became the oldest living person in Castile and León.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Los 110 años de la paramesa de Zambroncinos” – Diario de León, 25 July 2023

* “La supercentenaria de Zambroncinos celebra sus 110 años rodeada de su familia” – Diario de León, 31 July 2023

* “ “Aquí, como un mojón” ” – La Nueva Crónica, 6 August 2023

* “La tatarabuela de León cumple 111 años” – Diario de León, 30 July 2024

GALLERY