Tranquilina Urrutia Roque was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, on 6 July 1912.

She met her partner Florencio at the age of 14 in 1926, a man who worked in a sugar mill. She never married, but she had 9 children with him (four died as infants) of which only two are living as of January 2024; Petra (aged 84) and Irene (aged 73).

From a young age she dedicated herself to sewing and cooking for people, she sewed the men’s shirts and pants and dresses for the women. One of her children died in her arms from lung cancer, which she says was one of the saddest moments of her life.

In 1966, after the death of her eldest daughter, she moved to Mexico City to work as a cook. After she saved money to buy land, she returned to Oaxaca to build her house, because she separated from her partner Florencio at the time. When she returned, she helped as cook for the town festivals and continued cooking food to sell.

At the age of 108, she received the COVID-19 vaccine, making her one of the oldest known people in Mexico to receive the vaccine.

She liked to dance. In February 2024, she was reported to spend much of her time in bed. She has 20 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 23 great-great-grandchildren.

Tranquilina Urrutia Roque passed away in Valerio Trujano, Oaxaca, Mexico on 17 March 2024, aged 111 years, 254 days.