Maria was born in Carangola, Minas Gerais, Brazil and lived there her entire life. In 1913, she married João Valentim, who died in 1946. They had 1 child, a son, who died at 75, and furthermore had 4 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. She used a wheelchair and was cared for by her granddaughter. She died of multiple prgan failure on 21 June 2011, at the age of 114 years 347 days; 18 days shy of her 115th birthday
On 18 May 2011, Maria Gomes Valentim, aged 114 years 313 days, became the oldest verified living person.
Maria Gomes Valentim attributes her longevity to eating a daily roll of bread for breakfast along with fruit – though she indulges in the occasional nip of wine. "She says she has lived long because she has always taken care of her own life – and not the life of others,"Valentim has a great affection for feijoada – Brazil's national dish, a hearty bean stew with various cuts of salted pork meat – and chicken empada pastries "with a lot of hot sauce."

Maria was born in Carangola, Minas Gerais, Brazil and lived there her entire life. In 1913, she married João Valentim, who died in 1946. They had 1 child, a son, who died at 75, and furthermore had 4 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. She used a wheelchair and was cared for by her granddaughter. She died of multiple prgan failure on 21 June 2011, at the age of 114 years 347 days; 18 days shy of her 115th birthday
On 18 May 2011, Maria Gomes Valentim, aged 114 years 313 days, became the oldest verified living person.
Maria Gomes Valentim attributes her longevity to eating a daily roll of bread for breakfast along with fruit – though she indulges in the occasional nip of wine. "She says she has lived long because she has always taken care of her own life – and not the life of others,"Valentim has a great affection for feijoada – Brazil's national dish, a hearty bean stew with various cuts of salted pork meat – and chicken empada pastries "with a lot of hot sauce."
Maria was born in Carangola, Minas Gerais, Brazil and lived there her entire life. In 1913, she married João Valentim, who died in 1946. They had 1 child, a son, who died at 75, and furthermore had 4 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. She used a wheelchair and was cared for by her granddaughter. She died of multiple prgan failure on 21 June 2011, at the age of 114 years 347 days; 18 days shy of her 115th birthday
On 18 May 2011, Maria Gomes Valentim, aged 114 years 313 days, became the oldest verified living person.
Maria Gomes Valentim attributes her longevity to eating a daily roll of bread for breakfast along with fruit – though she indulges in the occasional nip of wine. "She says she has lived long because she has always taken care of her own life – and not the life of others,"Valentim has a great affection for feijoada – Brazil's national dish, a hearty bean stew with various cuts of salted pork meat – and chicken empada pastries "with a lot of hot sauce."
Maria was born in Carangola, Minas Gerais, Brazil and lived there her entire life. In 1913, she married João Valentim, who died in 1946. They had 1 child, a son, who died at 75, and furthermore had 4 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. She used a wheelchair and was cared for by her granddaughter. She died of multiple prgan failure on 21 June 2011, at the age of 114 years 347 days; 18 days shy of her 115th birthday
On 18 May 2011, Maria Gomes Valentim, aged 114 years 313 days, became the oldest verified living person.
Maria Gomes Valentim attributes her longevity to eating a daily roll of bread for breakfast along with fruit – though she indulges in the occasional nip of wine. "She says she has lived long because she has always taken care of her own life – and not the life of others,"Valentim has a great affection for feijoada – Brazil's national dish, a hearty bean stew with various cuts of