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Ethel Caterham, a 115-year-old woman from England, has officially become the world’s oldest living person, following the death of Sister Inah Canabarro, a 116-year-old Brazilian nun and teacher.

 According to the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) and LongeviQuest, Canabarro passed away on Wednesday, making Caterham the oldest confirmed living human.

Although Caterham now holds the title of the world’s oldest living person, the record for the oldest person ever still belongs to Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to the age of 122 years and 164 days, according to Guinness World Records.

Oldest Living Person Shares Her Secrets

Caterham has shared her approach to longevity over the years, offering a blend of pragmatism and optimism.

“Never arguing with anyone, I listen, and I do what I like,” Caterham said from her nursing home in Surrey when asked about the secret to her long life.

 In a 2020 interview with The Guardian, she reflected on life’s ups and downs, saying she took “everything in my stride, the highs and lows.”

She also told the Salisbury Journal, per Guinness World Records,

“Say yes to every opportunity because you never know what it will lead to. Have a positive mental attitude and have everything in moderation.”

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A Life of Adventure

Born on August 21, 1909, in the village of Shipton Bellinger in southern England, Caterham was the second youngest of eight children.

Her adventurous spirit led her to India at age 18, where she worked as a nanny for three years before returning to England, according to the GRG.

In 1931, she met her husband, Norman Caterham, a British army major, at a dinner party.

The couple lived abroad in Hong Kong and Gibraltar and later settled in the UK, raising two daughters. Norman passed away in 1976.

The Hallmark Lakeview Luxury Care Home in Camberley, where Caterham currently lives, celebrated her achievement with a party.

Celebrating Being 115 

Photos posted on Facebook showed her joyfully cutting a cake and wearing a sparkling "115" tiara.

“Huge congratulations to Lakeview resident, Ethel on becoming the oldest person in the world! What an incredible milestone and a true testament to a life well-lived,” the care home wrote in a Facebook post.

“Your strength, spirit, and wisdom are an inspiration to us all. Here’s to celebrating your remarkable journey!”

Sources:

• MSN – Secrets to Living a Long Life
• AP News – Ethel Caterham, World’s Oldest Living Person