Pelageya Zakurdaeva The oldest resident of Russia, Date of Birth: 06.06.1886 Country: Russia

1. The Oldest Person Alive: Pelageya Zakurdayeva
2. Life under the Tsars and the USSR
3. Independence and a Life Abroad
4. Reflections and Lessons
5. Longevity in Russia
6. Comparison with Other Centenarians
7. Pakhir Muhammad: The Oldest Man in Pakistan

The Oldest Person Alive: Pelageya Zakurdayeva

Pelageya Zakurdayeva, the oldest person alive, has witnessed two world wars, the rise and fall of the USSR, and the election of Russia's first president. Now, she lives out her days under the presidency of Vladimir Putin.

At 116 and a half years old, Zakurdayeva has outlived countless contemporaries. Born in 1886 on the birthday of Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, she has a lifetime of stories to tell. However, her memory is failing, and the details of her past are often shrouded in mystery.

Life under the Tsars and the USSR

Zakurdayeva recalls "better times" under the tsars, but acknowledges that her family was relatively wealthy. She married for the first time at age 17, but her husband Grigory was killed in a war, believed to be the Russo-Japanese War.

During the tumultuous years of the Russian Revolution, Zakurdayeva witnessed her father's brutal death at the hands of Bolsheviks. She subsequently worked tirelessly on collective farms, raising three children from her second marriage.

Independence and a Life Abroad

After losing her second husband, Zakurdayeva remained unmarried for many years. When she was around 50 years old, she married Afanasy Zakurdayev and lived with him for 30 years.

In her old age, Zakurdayeva moved to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where she remarried twice. First, to a Belarusian man named Roman, and then to a German man named Karl. She returned to Altai in Russia after the death of her fourth husband.

Reflections and Lessons

Zakurdayeva has outlived countless family members, including her parents, siblings, and four husbands. Yet, she maintains a calm and philosophical attitude towards death.

In her final years, she has become a symbol of resilience and a reminder of the importance of respecting the elderly. Her legacy serves as a testament to the extraordinary longevity and strength of the human spirit.

Longevity in Russia

Russia has a high number of centenarians, particularly in the city of Zarinsk, where Zakurdayeva resides. In addition to Zakurdayeva, three other women over 100 live in Zarinsk, and there are over 800 residents over the age of 80. However, despite the high number of elderly citizens, the average life expectancy in Russia is still relatively low, with men living on average to 59 years and women to 72 years.

Comparison with Other Centenarians

At the time of her death, Frenchwoman Jeanne-Louise Calment held the record as the oldest woman ever, living to the age of 122 years and 164 days. Maud Farris-Luse, an American from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is currently listed as the oldest woman alive in the Guinness Book of World Records. She claims to have been born in 1884, making her 116 years old.

Pakhir Muhammad: The Oldest Man in Pakistan

Pakhir Muhammad, the oldest man in Pakistan, lived to the age of 136. He was known for his robust health and attributed his longevity to a simple diet and an active lifestyle spent outdoors.