Heartbreaking final message as world's oldest woman passes away
Maria Branyas Morera, the world's oldest woman, has died aged 117.
The centurion, who has lived through two world wars and a global pandemic, passed away “peacefully and without pain”, according to her family members who announced her tragic passing on X, formerly Twitter.
“Maria Branyas has left us.
“She died as she wished: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain.
“We will always remember her for her advice and her kindness.”
In a heartbreaking final message shared to X on Tuesday, Morera shared that she felt "weak" and that the "time is near".
“The time is near. Don’t cry, I don’t like tears. And above all, don’t suffer for me," she wrote.
“Wherever I go, I will be happy.”
Morera became the world's oldest living person after French nun Lucile Randon passed away aged 118 in January last year.
Before her death, Morera agreed to undergo scientific testing by researchers who collected samples of her saliva, blood and urine, in hopes to gain insight into the secrets to a long life.
They will compare them with those of her 80-year-old daughter and hope that by studying her genes they may develop drugs which could combat diseases associated with ageing.
Morera is survived by her two daughters, 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Images: news.com.au/ Guinness Book of Records