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Maria Esther de CapovillaEcuadorian centenarian
Date of Birth: 14.09.1889
Country:  Ecuador |
Content:
Biography of Maria Esther de Capovilla
Maria Esther de Capovilla, an Ecuadorian centenarian, was one of the seven undisputed supercentenarians who lived beyond 116 years. She held the title of the oldest living person on Earth from May 29, 2004 until her own death, although officially the title was held by Dutch woman Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper.
Early Life and Family
Maria was born in the Ecuadorian city of Guayaquil in 1889. She was originally named Maria Esther Eredia Lecaro. She was the daughter of a colonel and grew up in the upper class of society. Maria had a passion for the arts. She never smoked or drank alcohol.
In 1917, she married officer Antonio Capovilla, who passed away in 1949. Antonio, an ethnic Italian, was born in Pola, Austria-Hungary (now Pula, Croatia) in 1864. He moved to Chile in 1894 and then to Ecuador in 1910. After the death of his first wife, he married Maria. They had five children, three of whom were still alive at the time of Maria's death: daughters Hilda (81), Irma (80), and son Anibal (78).
Maria had twelve grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
A Remarkable Life
At the age of 100, Maria Capovilla had a near-death experience and even received the last rites, but she didn't have any further health issues afterwards. In December 2005, at the age of 116, Capovilla was in good health and able to watch television, read newspapers, and walk without the aid of a cane (although she did have assistance while walking).
By March 2006, Maria's health had declined. She could no longer read newspapers and she had almost stopped speaking. She also stopped walking unless assisted by two people.
Unfortunately, Maria Capovilla passed away just 18 days before her 117th birthday due to pneumonia.
