Grandmother Laurina, born Lucia Laura Sangenito, has reached the incredible milestone of 115 years, becoming the longest-living woman in Italy and the fourth in the world. Born on November 22, 1910, her existence spanned two world wars, the Covid pandemic and the tragic earthquake of 1980, which occurred just one day after her seventieth birthday.
Grandma Laurina also witnessed great social changes: among the first historical events of her life was the possibility of voting for the Italian Republic in 1946, participating with conviction in the referendum that abolished the Monarchy. When asked about the secret of her longevity, the woman responds simply:
Jesus gave them to me and I take them.
A special day in Sturno
In Sturno, a small town in the province of Avellino, Nonna Laurina’s birthday is celebrated as a real city festival. The mayor, local authorities and the Carabinieri of the Mirabella Eclano Company participated in the greetings, handing out commemorative plaques and symbolic gifts, including the image of the Virgo Fidelis, patron saint of the Carabinieri.
The woman is surrounded by the affection of her family, in particular her daughter Maria, 77 years old, and her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This year’s birthday also featured symbolic gifts, such as a tree donated by the grandchildren, where the trunk represents the grandmother and the branches represent the family.
Nonna Laurina’s routine
Relatives say that Nonna Laurina does not follow a precise routine: sometimes she gets up between 8 and 9, other times she stays in bed until midday, having breakfast at half past one. The diet? Eat everything, without excluding anything. Prayer, mass and rosary remain staples of his daily life.
Longevity is a family characteristic: Nonna Laurina’s husband also lived to be 98 years old. Nonna Laurina is currently the longest-living woman in Italy for the second consecutive year and fourth in the world, after Ethel Catelham, Marie-Rose Tessier and Naomi Whitehead.
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