World's Oldest Person, Maria Branyas Morera, Dies 'Peacefully and Without Pain' at 117

Mar. 15, 2025

Maria Branyas Morera celebrating her 115th birthday.Photo:Maria Branyas/twitter

Maria Branyas/twitter

The world’s oldest person, Maria Branyas Morera, has died at the age of 117.On Tuesday, Aug. 20, her family announcedon X(formerly known as Twitter) that Morera had died “peacefully” in her sleep.“Maria Branyas has left us. She has died as she wanted: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain,” they wrote in Catalan. “A few days ago she told us: ‘One day I will leave here. I will not try coffee again, nor eat yogurt, nor caress the Fairy…, I will also leave my memories, my reflections…’ ”Morera also told the family “I will cease to exist in this body,” they stated in a follow-up post. “One day I don’t know, but it’s very close, this long journey will be over,” she continued. “Death will find me worn out from having lived so long, but I want it to find me smiling, free and satisfied.”“We will always remember her for her advice and kindness,” her family added in a post translated from Catalan.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Maria Branyas Morera pictured here with her father Josep in 1924.Maria Branyas/twitterIn January 2023, theGuinness World Recordsconfirmed Morera asthe planet’s oldest person livingfollowing the death of 118-year-oldLucile Randonof France.According to the organization, Morera was born in San Francisco on March 4, 1907 — the same year as the lateKatherine HepburnandJohn Wayne.This came a year after her parents emigrated to the United States. However, after eight years, the family returned to Spain and settled in Catalonia.During the journey to Spain, Morera’s father died from pulmonary tuberculosis on the transatlantic voyage.According toThe New York Times, Morera was married to a doctor for 40 years in Girona, Spain. The couple shared three children together and later welcomed over a dozen grandchildren.The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!Morera went on to reside in a nursing home, Residència Santa María del Tura in Olot, Spain for over 20 years.Her daughter would often help her post photos and words of wisdom on X.“Life is not eternal for anyone,” she wrotein January 2023. “At my age, a new year is a gift, a humble celebration, a new adventure, a beautiful journey, a moment of happiness. Let’s enjoy life together.”

The world’s oldest person, Maria Branyas Morera, has died at the age of 117.

On Tuesday, Aug. 20, her family announcedon X(formerly known as Twitter) that Morera had died “peacefully” in her sleep.

“Maria Branyas has left us. She has died as she wanted: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain,” they wrote in Catalan. “A few days ago she told us: ‘One day I will leave here. I will not try coffee again, nor eat yogurt, nor caress the Fairy…, I will also leave my memories, my reflections…’ ”

Morera also told the family “I will cease to exist in this body,” they stated in a follow-up post. “One day I don’t know, but it’s very close, this long journey will be over,” she continued. “Death will find me worn out from having lived so long, but I want it to find me smiling, free and satisfied.”

“We will always remember her for her advice and kindness,” her family added in a post translated from Catalan.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Maria Branyas Morera pictured here with her father Josep in 1924.Maria Branyas/twitter

In January 2023, theGuinness World Recordsconfirmed Morera asthe planet’s oldest person livingfollowing the death of 118-year-oldLucile Randonof France.

According to the organization, Morera was born in San Francisco on March 4, 1907 — the same year as the lateKatherine HepburnandJohn Wayne.

This came a year after her parents emigrated to the United States. However, after eight years, the family returned to Spain and settled in Catalonia.

During the journey to Spain, Morera’s father died from pulmonary tuberculosis on the transatlantic voyage.

According toThe New York Times, Morera was married to a doctor for 40 years in Girona, Spain. The couple shared three children together and later welcomed over a dozen grandchildren.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Morera went on to reside in a nursing home, Residència Santa María del Tura in Olot, Spain for over 20 years.

Her daughter would often help her post photos and words of wisdom on X.

“Life is not eternal for anyone,” she wrotein January 2023. “At my age, a new year is a gift, a humble celebration, a new adventure, a beautiful journey, a moment of happiness. Let’s enjoy life together.”

source: people.com