Elderly individual Inah Canabarro Lucas, recognized as the world's oldest person, passed away at the age of 116.
Inah Canabarro Lucas, born on June 8, 1908, in São Francisco de Assis, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, has left an indelible mark on the world as a devoted educator, religious sister, and a supercentenarian.
Born to João Antônio Lucas and Mariana Canabarro Lucas, Inah's early life was marked by adversity. Despite being a frail child, she survived and grew up, setting the stage for a remarkable journey.
At the age of 16, she embarked on her religious path at the Santa Teresa de Jesus boarding school in Santana do Livramento. Her journey continued, and in the early 1940s, she returned to Santana do Livramento and resumed her work as a teacher.
Inah's legacy as an educator was further solidified when she moved to Montevideo, Uruguay, and later to Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, where she taught Portuguese and mathematics.
Inah Canabarro Lucas was the great-granddaughter of General David Canabarro, a notable figure in Brazil's history. In 1930, she took her perpetual vows and officially became a nun at the age of 26.
Throughout her life, Inah has been recognised for her significant achievements. In 2024, she was officially recognised as Brazil's oldest living person by the LongeviQuest team. In the same year, she became the World's Oldest Living Person, following the passing of Tomiko Itooka, at the age of 116 years, 204 days.
Inah Canabarro Lucas's tenure as the World's Oldest Living Person was short-lived, as Ethel Caterham of the United Kingdom took over the title. However, her legacy as a devoted educator, religious sister, and a supercentenarian will be remembered with great admiration.
At the time of her passing, Inah Canabarro Lucas was the 15th-oldest documented person in history, the second-oldest nun in history, following France's Lucile Randon, and the third-oldest ever in Latin America.
On July 30, 2022, she became the oldest validated living person in South and Latin America following the passing of Colombia's Sofia Rojas. The Gerontology Research Group recognised Inah Canabarro Lucas as the oldest living person in South and Latin America.
We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Inah Canabarro Lucas. Her life, filled with resilience, dedication, and a commitment to education and faith, serves as an inspiration to us all. May her memory be a blessing.
