centenarian Archives

LongeviQuest is delighted to announce that Ireland’s oldest living person has turned 109 years old. Kitty marked her birthday on Sunday, November 12th, at her home in Knockasturkeen, near Midleton. Her eldest child, Anne, described the occasion as “a great day,” filled with festivities and the company of loved ones, including 15 cousins. To commemorate the special milestone, a custom-made cake was prepared for Kitty’s birthday celebration. Kitty’s 109th birthday on Sunday marked the latest milestone in what her eldest son, George, describes as her “remarkable” life.

Kitty Jeffery’s 109th birthday in her County Cork home
(Source: Irish Independent)

Kitty Jeffery is an Irish supercentenarian born in Glenville, County Cork, Ireland on 20 August 1912. Jeffery’s life has lived through some of the most significant events in Irish history. She witnessed the Irish War of Independence and the Civil War and even remembers hearing of Michael Collins’ shooting.

She became a renowned member of the community as a member of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association, the Mother’s Union, and later as a frequent attendee of local country markets.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Narcisa Ruiz Lebrón of the United States at age 108. She was born in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico on 29 October 1915. In 1935, she got married, and the couple had 15 or 16 children. She was a farmer, and the family resided in a small house with just one bedroom.

On her 108th birthday.
(Source: Facebook/Municipio de Yabucoa)

At the age of 107, she had 52 grandchildren, more than 90 great-grandchildren, and more than 40 great-great-grandchildren.

For more information, please view Narcisa Ruiz Lebrón’s Directory Profile here.

It is with a heavy heart for LongeviQuest to share that Jaak Broekx, the oldest man from Belgium, passed away at 109 years old. He was a Belgian centenarian who was the title holder for being the country’s oldest man at the time of his death.

Henricus Petrus Jacobus (Jaak) Broekx was born on 6 August 1914 in Bree, Limburg, Belgium.

Jaak spent his entire life working as a farmer until he was 100 years old. He never had a wife nor any children. He lived with his sister Christine until she passed away on 14 March 2015, when she was 97 years old.

As a young man.
(Photo credit: rv/Greet Henderix)

In 2020, Jaak moved into a nursing home as he was unable to maintain an independent life because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The nursing home reported that he was never ill during his stay with them. However, during his last moments, he was already using a wheelchair and was hard of hearing. On a positive note, he remained mentally sharp until he passed away.

Broekx died in a peaceful manner after falling asleep. He passed away in the morning of 31 October 2023 in Bree, Limberg, Belgium, at the age of 109 years old.

At the time of his death, he was the oldest living man in Belgium.

LongeviQuest extends our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends of Jaak Broekx.

For more information, please visit Jaak Broekx‘s Directory Profile here.

It is with great delight for LongeviQuest to share that the oldest person in Croatia turned 109 years old. Grandmother Mara Gabelica is a Croatian centenarian known as the current oldest living person in the country.

Mara Gabelica was born on 8 September 1914 in the village of Ivangegovina, Split-Dalmatia County, Austria-Hungary (which is known as Croatia in the present day.)

Grandmother Mara Gabelica

She married her first and only love, Anta Gabelica, in 1932 in the village of Podbablje. Mara was only 17 years old at the time of the wedding while her husband was 12 years older than her. The couple had two daughters and two sons. In 1953, they moved to Zmijavci, Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia. Two years later, her husband passed away in 1955 so Mara was left a widow.

On 8 May 2022, Mara became the oldest living person in the country after 108-year-old Andjela Sostaric died.

Mara Bagelica currently resides in the village of Zmijavci, municipality of Zmijavci, Split-Dalmatia, Croatia.

LongeviQuest sends our warmest greetings to Grandmother Mara Gabelica, and to her family and friends, for this milestone of her life.

Vidar Eide, Norway’s oldest living person, turned 109 on 3 July 2023 in Vestlandet, Norway. He was born in Torvikbygd, Vestland, Norway on 3 July 1914, just a few weeks before First World War began.

retrieved from: https://www.hf.no/nyhende/den-eldste-mannen-i-kvam-feira-bursdag/

Eide worked as a dairy farmer and a shipbuilder and is the oldest member of the Norwegian Farmers’ Association. At the time of his 108th birthday in 2022, he was still active and independent and still lived in the same home he was born in. He used a mobility scooter to help him travel longer distances, but he used crutches to get around his home. He has lived in a nursing home since late 2022, following a broken arm. Eide reads newspapers daily and has recently started using a cell phone after being convinced by his granddaughter to try the newest technologies.

LongeviQuest sends our congratulations to Mr. Eide and his family. We wish you good health and happiness.

LongeviQuest is delighted to announce the age validation for Emilia Canché Caamal at 108 years old. She is currently the oldest known Mayan woman in Mexico, and the oldest known living person in the state of Quintana Roo.

Mrs. Canché Caamal was born into a Mayan family in Tekit, Yucatán, Mexico, on 28 May 1915 (claimed 1914). At some point, she married Augusto Nahuat Soberanis and the couple had three daughters and two sons.

As a centenarian. (Source: Facebook/El Pregón Yucateco)

In the 1950s, she moved to José María Morelos, Quintana Roo, where she worked as a midwife. Many local people from that community recognized the service that she provided to low-income families by bringing 20 children into the world.

She currently has 33 grandchildren, 95 great-grandchildren, and 61 great-great grandchildren.

For more information, please view Emilia Canché Caamal’s Directory Profile here.

It is with a heavy heart for LongeviQuest to announce the death of Slovakia’s oldest citizen, Gizela Dvončová at 106 years old.

Mrs. Gizela Dvončová was born on 7 December 1916, Partizanske, Trencin Region of Slovakia (known as Austria-Hungary at the time of her birth). She started devoting her whole life to folklore and theater at the young age of 16 years old as she deeply expresses her love for singing. Basically, singing to herself everywhere and anywhere plus having a good mood always, are the secrets for her longevity.

The oldest Slovak, Gizela Dvončová (pictured), died at the age of 106. Photo – TASR – Radovan Stoklasa

Mrs. Dvončová was very active when it came to her passion. It was shown when she took part in a singing competition when she was 99 years old. She was also strong willed as she participated in the Slovak parliamentary election in February 2020 when she was 103 years old. Mrs. Dvončová even stated that she understands politics very well since she was younger and that she always encouraged her family to also vote.

Mrs. Dvončová became the oldest known living person in Slovakia on 1 May 2022 when the 106-year-old Margita Bindasova passed away.

Mrs. Gizela Dvončová passed away on 28 May 2023 in the very place she was born, in Partizanske, Trencin Region, Slovakia. She was a centenarian whose age is not yet validated by LongeviQuest. It is not yet known who the new oldest living person in Slovakia is, but the title might be at the hands of Ilona Szekér, a 105-year-old centenarian from the city of Nitra.

LongeviQuest is extending our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends of Mrs. Gizela Dvončová.

LongeviQuest is saddened to report the death of the second oldest known Greenlandic man on the record, Jørgen Kleemann. He was born in the village of Aappilattoq, Municipality of Avannaata, Greenland on 7 March 1923 and passed away in his sleep on 11 May 2023 at Ippiarsuk, Nuuk, Greenland.

Mr. Kleemann was a well-known accordion player. He began publishing his music in 1980, and it has since become cassette tapes, CDs, and records. He made several of his music with his son Sejer Kleemann. In 2001, he was awarded the Greenland Medal for Meritorious Service, the highest award based in Greenland. He also received the Naalakkersuisut’s Cultural Prize for his work with music and theatre in 2014, which is also considered one of Greenland’s most prestigious awards.

Jørgen Kleemann received Greenland Culture Prize in 2014. (Source: sermitsiaq.ag)

He recently celebrated his 100^th birthday on 7 March 2023, making him Greenland’s second known male centenarian. The mayor of Sermersooq Municipality gave him a Kaffemik celebration and extended a celebratory speech for Mr. Kleemann. His son mentioned that his father had been looking forward to turning 100.

On 28 February 2021, he became the oldest known living man and person in Greenland following the death of 102-year-old Anton Geisler (Greenland’s first known male centenarian, and the oldest Greenlandic man ever). His age has been verified by LongeviQuest using his baptismal record. Mr. Kleemann was Greenland’s only known centenarian at his death.

LongeviQuest is extending our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends of Mr. Jørgen Kleemann.