| Maria Giuseppa Robucci | |
 Maria Giuseppa Robucci at the age of 115 | |
| Birth: | 20 March 1903 Poggio Imperiale, Apulia, Italy |
| Death: | 18 June 2019 Poggio Imperiale, Apulia, Italy |
| Age: | 116 years, 90 days |
| Country: |  ITA
|
| Validated | |
Maria Giuseppa Robucci-Nargiso (20 March 1903 – 18 June 2019) was an Italian supercentenarian who, at the time of her death, was the oldest living person in Europe, and the second-oldest validated living person in the world, behind Kane Tanaka.
At the time of her death, Robucci was the third-oldest European whose age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group. At 116 years, 90 days, she remains the second-oldest Italian person ever recorded, after Emma Morano. She was also the last confirmed European person born in 1903, as well as the second to last validated person born in 1903 overall, behind Kane Tanaka of Japan.
Biography
Early Life and Family
Robucci, affectionately known as 'Nonna Peppa', was born in 1903 in Poggio Imperiale in the Foggia province of Apulia region, Italy. Her parents were Antonio and Maria Michela Robucci. On 3 December 1928, she married Nicola Nargiso, who died in 1982. The Nargiso family reportedly suffered financially in the years after World War II.
Robucci and her husband had five children: Angelo, Concetta (who later became a nun named Sister Nicoletta), Antonio, Giuseppe, and Filomena. As of 2015, her son Angelo was still alive at the age of 86.
Later Life and Death
In 2003, Robucci's 100th birthday was featured in a television show called La vita in diretta for the channel Rai Uno. At the time, she was still able to chop wood. At the age of 111, she was still able to walk, but in 2014 she broke her hip after a fall and underwent surgery.
On 26 May 2019, at the age of 116, Robucci voted in that year's European Parliament election. She died in Poggio Imperiale, Apulia, Italy on 18 June 2019 at the age of 116 years, 90 days. She credited her longevity to a good diet, having faith in God, avoiding alcohol, and having a positive mindset.
Longevity Records
Robucci became the oldest living person in both Italy and Europe following the death of 116-year-old Giuseppina Projetto-Frau on 6 July 2018. Following the death of Chiyo Miyako on 22 July 2018, she then became the second-oldest living validated person in the world, behind Kane Tanaka.
On 20 March 2019, Robucci celebrated her 116th birthday, becoming the third Italian person in history to reach this age. On 27 April 2019, she surpassed the age of Giuseppina Projetto-Frau to become the second-oldest Italian and fourth-oldest European person ever recorded. Ten days later, she surpassed the age of Ana Vela-Rubio to become the third-oldest European ever recorded, behind Jeanne Calment, and Emma Morano.
Robucci was the oldest validated person to die in 2019. Following her death, Lucile Randon became Europe's oldest validated living person and Anna Benericetti became Italy's oldest living person.
Gallery
References
- Gerontology Research Group
- POGGIO IMPERIALE: Compie 100 anni e il paese le fa la festa Capitanata, 19 March 2003
- Auguri Maria Giuseppa Poggio Imperiale, 20 March 2009
- Canta e passeggia in riva al mare. Nonna Peppa compie 111 anni Corriere Del Mezzogiorno, 21 March 2014
- Intervento "record" per femore rotto su anziana di 111 anni Ansa, 5 May 2014
- Corriere Corriere, 20 March 2015
- Maria Giuseppa Robucci compie 115 anni Noi Notizie, 20 March 2018
- È foggiana la nonna più anziana d'Europa: Maria Giuseppa ora punta alla vetta mondiale della longevità Foggia Today, 9 July 2018
- Un dono visibile per la nostra comunità per l’arrivo della super centenaria italiana di 115 anni La Gazzetta di San Severo, 24 October 2018
- Nonna Peppa ha fatto il suo dovere, è l’elettrice più anziana d’Europa. Votò per Referendum ’46 l'Immediato, 26 May 2019
- La Capitanata in lutto: è morta la 'nonna d'Europa' Giuseppa Robucci, si è spenta a 116 anni (e 90 giorni) Foggia Today, 18 June 2019