The eldest sister Levita de des Nunes is 108 years old, four years older than her younger sister Zoride de des Motas, who is 104 years old. Her younger sister, Zulina de Des Nunes, is also a centenarian, aged 103. The siblings were born in Cedro de São João, a rural district in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Sergipe. The daughters of Manoel and Jovelina de des Nunes, they grew up in a family of eight that valued hard work, unity, discipline, and solidarity.
Levita was born in 1917 and spent his youth managing the family household before moving to Rio de Janeiro in 1953. He worked behind the scenes for the national broadcaster Rede Globo.
Born in November 1921, Zoride rejected the traditional gender norms of the time by qualifying as a primary school teacher. She later graduated from the prestigious Anna Neri School of Nursing.
Zoride married and raised five children after the death of two others. It is said that he inspired future generations of the family to pursue fields such as medicine and law.
Zulina was born in March 1923 and used her artisan embroidery skills to raise funds for the university education of all six of her children. She moved to Rio in 1952, a year before her sister.
Zulina remains remarkably independent in cooking, household tasks, and serving as matriarch to her nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. It is said that sisters remain inseparable.
However, over the years he has had to deal with personal loss, economic hardship and global turmoil. Now, after examining family documents and conducting interviews, his record as the eldest sibling has been verified by LongevityQuest, reports CreatorZine.
Researchers Ira Souza and Gabriel Ainsworth said they represent “the power of lifelong brotherhood”. Although these three hold the record for being the oldest siblings in the world, they are still chasing the all-time record.
This position was held by the American Renfro sisters, whose combined age was 325 years in 2009. The sisters also have a way to go until they can claim to be the oldest person in the world.
That record is currently held by British citizen Ethel Cartherham. Ethel was aged 116 years and 223 days when confirmed by LongQuest in April.
Ethel inherited the crown following the death of Inah Cannaborough Lucas. When Ethel was asked the secret to living a long life, she said it required a “positive mental attitude” and “saying yes to everything.”
She is believed to be the last living person who was born in 1909. He was born during the reign of King Edward VII.
