Oldest woman in world died at 116
Who became the oldest person in the world after the death of the 116-year-old nun (Collage by RBC-Ukraine)
Inah Canabarro Lucas, a nun from Brazil who lived through two world wars and was blessed by the Pope, passed away at the age of 116 on April 30. Less than a year ago, this woman became the oldest living person on the planet after her predecessor, 116-year-old Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka. Metro reports on who is now the oldest woman on the planet.
The new oldest woman in the world is a British woman from Surrey – Ethel May Caterham. Ethel currently resides at the Hallmark Lakeview Care Home in Lightwater, Surrey.
On August 21, 2024, the British woman celebrated her 115th birthday in style. She is just a few months away from turning 116.
Ethel May Caterham was born on August 21, 1909, in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire. She holds another remarkable title – the last living subject of King Edward VII.
Ethel celebrates her 115th birthday (photo: screenshot)
It is worth noting that in 2024, Ethel became only the third British woman to reach the age of 115.
At the age of 18, Ethel started working as a caregiver for a military family in India, where she lived for three years. In 1931, she returned to Britain and met her future husband, Norman, at a party.
In 1933, they got married in Salisbury Cathedral, where Norman was a chorister. He later became a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps, and the couple lived in Harnham. Later, Ethel and her husband moved first to Hong Kong and then to Gibraltar.
Ethel with her family (screenshot)
In Hong Kong, Ethel founded a kindergarten for teaching English. In Gibraltar, the couple had two daughters, who were later raised in England.
Ethel now has a large family: two daughters, three granddaughters, and five great-grandchildren. She explains her longevity very simply, with her resilience and ability to adapt.
