Nair Gonçalves da Rosa was born in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on 5 February 1916. She grew up in Torres, which at the time was just a fishing village. Being on the coast, Torres attracted vacationers who owned homes there. She would spend summers working in the homes, as well as winters cleaning, cutting the grass, and generally looking after them. She specialized in making hats out of straw that grew from local butiá and tiririca bushes. After braiding the straw into hats, she would sell them to shopkeepers in Torres, who would then resell them. She was also talented at braiding hair.

At some point, she got married and went on to have 10 children.

At the time of her 108th birthday, she had 5 living children (5 deceased), 29 living grandchildren (6 deceased), 57 great-grandchildren, and 31 great-great-grandchildren.

Nair Gonçalves da Rosa passed away in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, on 2 March 2024, at the age of 108 years, 26 days.