Manfredini, an immigrant living in the U.S., was also the oldest Italian person in history

Dec 18, 2012 13:41 GMT  ·  By
Dina Manfredini was also the oldest Italian person in history and oldest person in the world
   Dina Manfredini was also the oldest Italian person in history and oldest person in the world

Dina Manfredini, holding the title for oldest person in the world for under two weeks, passed away at 115 years old. Her title now goes to Jiroemon Kimura of Japan, 115 years and 239 days old.

As I wrote at the time, on December 4, Besse Cooper of Georgia, died at the age of 115, after holding the title of oldest person in the world for 2 years.

The title went to Manfredini, also living in the United States, according to Guinness World Records. She was born before both Amelia Earhart and William Faulker, in Pievepelago, Italy, on April 4th, 1897.

In 1920, she moved to Des Moines with husband Ricardo, and was a housewife until taking up cleaning houses, before she was 90 years old.

Until she reached the age of 110, she was able to care for herself in her home in Des Moines. The Johnston Patch writes that she then relocated to assisted living facility Bishop Drumm Care Center in Johnston, Iowa.

When she was awarded the title, she was still able to move around, by using a walker, and she would do gardening almost daily.

Robert Young, senior consultant of Gerontology for Guinness World Records, concluded that Dina also holds the title for only Italian person to ever reach the age of 115.