Europe’s oldest person dies aged 116 after saying she owed her long life to her faith in God

Europe’s oldest person dies aged 116 after saying she owed her long life to her faith in God, a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol

  • Maria Giuseppa Robucci died at her home in Poggio Imperiale in Italy aged 116
  • The supercentenarian was Europe’s oldest person and the world’s second oldest 
  • Known as ‘Nonna Peppa’ she credited her long life to God and avoiding alcohol

Europe’s oldest person has died at her home at the age of 116 at her home in Italy.

Maria Giuseppa Robucci, who lived in the southeastern city of Foggia, celebrated her 116th birthday on March 20.

In previous interviews the great-grandmother credited her longevity to her faith in God, a healthy diet and avoiding drinking alcohol.

Affectionately known as ‘Nonna Peppa’ to her friends and family, she was also the second oldest person in the world. 

The supercentenarian became Europe’s oldest person in December 2017 when  Spaniard, Ana Vela, died in her sleep in Barcelona.

Maria Giuseppa Robucci was Europe’s oldest person and the second oldest in the world. She died at her home in Foggia, Italy

She became only the third Italian in history to reach the milestone age of 116 and went on to live a further 90 days. 

Alfonso D’Aloisio, the mayor of Poggio Imperiale, told Italian newspaper Il Messaggero: ‘We are sorry, but at the same time honoured to have had her as a fellow citizen.’

Robucci was born on March 20, 1903, and lived through two world wars. 

For many years she worked with her husband, Nicola Nargiso who died in 1982, in the village bar.

Italian Maria Giuseppa Robucci became Europe's oldest person in December 2017 when Ana Vela died in her sleep in Barcelona

Italian Maria Giuseppa Robucci became Europe’s oldest person in December 2017 when Ana Vela died in her sleep in Barcelona

The couple had five children – three boys and two girls – plus nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Despite her husband running a bar, Robucci told Italian media: ‘Eat little and healthy, never a glass of wine and never a cigarette in your mouth.’

She had recently been moved to a different home as her health deteriorated, according to local media reports.

Robucci was made an honourary mayor of Poggio Imperiale in 2012 and so her funeral will be organised by the town council. 

Her death comes after the oldest woman in Britain, Grace Jones, died last week. 

But unlike her Italian counterpart, the British 112-year-old credited her long life to a daily drink of whisky.

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