Emma Morano, world’s oldest person dies at age 117

Emma Morano, who at 117 was believed to be the world's oldest person and the last surviving child of the 19th century, died on Saturday, swearing to the end on her diet of two raw eggs a day. ...read more

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Emma Morano, who at 117 was believed to be the world’s oldest person and the last surviving child of the 19th century, died on Saturday, swearing to the end on her diet of two raw eggs a day. (REUTERS)

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Emma Morano (C) is kissed by her caretakers Malgorzat Ceglinska and Yamilec Vergara during the 117th birthday in her house in Verbania, northern Italy. (Alessandro Garofalo / Reuters File Photo)

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Morano, who lived 117 years and 137 days, was born on Nov. 29, 1899, four years before the Wright brothers first took to the air. Her life spanned three centuries, two World Wars and more than 90 Italian governments. (Antonio Calanni / AP File photo)

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Morano outlived all her eight brothers and sisters, including one who died at 102. (Alessandro Garofalo / Reuters File Photo)

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Dr Carlo Bava told The Associated Press by telephone that Morano’s caretaker called him to say the woman had passed away on Saturday afternoon while sitting in an armchair in her home in Verbania, a town on Lake Maggiore. (Alessandro Garofalo / Reuters File Photo)

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Emma Morano, 117 years old, blows candles on the day of her birthday in Verbania, Italy. (Antonio Calanni / AP File photo)

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Morano went on to support herself by working in a factory making jute bags, then at a hotel, working way beyond the usual retirement age. (Alessandro Garofalo / Reuters File Photo)

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According to the Gerontology Research Group, a US body that tracks supercentenarians, the oldest person after Morano is Jamaican woman Violet Brown, who turned 117 on March 10. (Antonio Calanni / AP File photo)