World's oldest person celebrates 117th birthday

VERBANIA, Italy — The last known living person to have been born in the 19th century celebrated her 117 birthday on Tuesday.

Emma Morano earned the Guinness World Record as the world's oldest living person when Susannah Mushatt Jones passed away in May.

A relative told The Daily Telegraph that Morano said, "My word, I'm as old as the hills."

Morano was born Nov. 29, 1899, in northern Italy. She is the last known living person to have been born in the 1800s. Morano lived through multiple wars and worked in a factory. Morano said she was a beautiful singer in her younger days. According to the Telegraph, Morano left her husband, who she said was violent, shortly after the death of their only child. She never remarried.

Dr. Carlo Bava, Morano’s doctor, told The Associated Press that despite hardships, she has maintained a serene attitude, that, along with genetics, may help explain her longevity. One of Morano’s sisters lived to be over 100 and another sister almost reached 100.

Morano is almost completely deaf and her sight is limited, but she is otherwise in good health. She consumes raw eggs daily along with small amounts of meat and pasta but drinks only milk for dinner. Last year, Morano told the Italian newspaper La Stampa that she enjoyed a glass of homemade brandy each day. She goes to bed before 7 p.m. and rises before 6 a.m. A caregiver and relatives help care for her.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Cox Media Group