Trio of sisters with an unbreakable bond set record with combined age of over 316 years
A trio of sisters in their golden years have their unbreakable bond to thank for helping them live long enough to break the record for highest combined age of three living siblings.
Zulina de Deus Nunes, Zoraide de Deus Mota and Levita de Deus Nunes (all Brazil) have a combined age of 316 years and 302 days, as confirmed by LongeviQuest.
Researcher Iara Souza from the global authority on human longevity stopped by Rio de Janeiro to meet the sisters in May.
Levita is the eldest at 109, middle sister Zoraide is 104, and Zulina, the baby of the family, is 103.
Born on 7 June 1917, Levita is the second eldest of eight siblings, and she had a big responsibility at home, running the household and caring for the others while her parents worked in the fields.
Levita as a young woman
She never married or had children, but devoted her life to her family instead. Just like her mother, she loved handmade crafts, especially crochet, knitting and sewing, and has continued the passion throughout her life.
That formed part of her livelihood, but she also worked at Rede Globo Television for 12 years.
Zoraide was born on 24 November 1921 and went on to become a primary school teacher and then a nurse, working in several hospitals until her retirement.
Zoraide at age 25
She married Enéas Alves da Mota in 1950 and they welcomed five children together.
Read about more of the world’s oldest people in our Human Body section.
Zulina joined the family on 4 March 1923.
Zulina as a young woman with her sons
Like her big sister Levita, she also has a lifelong love for crafts like sewing and embroidery.
She married José Benvindo dos Santos on 17 July 1945 and looked after their household and six children while he worked on the railway. After their marriage ended, she moved to Rio de Janeiro, where Zoraide already lived and where Levita soon came to join her and help her adjust to life on her own with her children.
From left, Zulina, Levita and Zoraide now
Over the decades, the sisters have been inseparable and always been there to support one another through life’s ups and downs.
All images courtesy of LongeviQuest.