Tag: Croatia

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
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.

Marija Ruljancic, a Croatian-Australian supercentenarian, celebrated her 110th birthday on 13 June 2023 with her family in Hawthorne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She now has two birthday celebratory messages from monarchs: from King Charles III for her 110th and from the late Queen Elizabeth II on her 100th to 109th. Mrs. Ruljancic is currently the oldest known living Croatian-born person, the oldest living person in Victoria, and the third-oldest known living person in Australia after Catherina van der Linden and Dulcie Fawcett. Her age validation is under review.

Congratulatory messages from two monarchs (source: www.theage.com.au)

Mrs. Ruljancich was born in Vis, Austria-Hungary, (present-day Croatia) on 13 June 1913 from a family of winemakers. However, their family business was ruined by the effects of the 1918 Great Influenza pandemic.

At the age of 19, she married Ivan Ruljancich and have three children, eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. She currently lives with her son, Dr. Kevin Ruljancich, a Melbourne oral and maxillofacial surgeon. His son sacrificed his social life to carefully shield his mother from becoming infected with COVID-19.

She attributes her long life to a healthy lifestyle, which includes abstaining from alcohol and tobacco and eating in moderation.

LongeviQuest sends our warmest congratulations to Mrs. Marija Ruljancic and her family. We wish you good health and happiness.