Emília Pires Rocha, a resident of Montemor-o-Velho, celebrates her 108th birthday on Monday, October 27, and shared her secret to longevity: never marrying.
“She says the secret is not getting married,” indicated a representative from Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Montemor-o-Velho to Diario de Coimbra.
Emília was born on October 27, 1917, and lived alone in a house in the village of Verride, her birthplace. Around two years ago, when she “began losing some faculties,” she moved to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Montemor-o-Velho, where her brother, who has since passed away, was already residing.
“She lived independently until the age of 106,” the representative explained.
Upon arriving at the care home, she was “more autonomous.” Nowadays, she uses a wheelchair and her health has deteriorated recently, requiring “some assistance,” as explained by the representative.
Emília, who worked as a seamstress, never married or had children. According to her, this is her secret to a long life. Her only family is a niece who visits her regularly.
The Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Montemor-o-Velho also marked her birthday on social media.
“It was a very special moment celebrating the birthday of our esteemed resident, Mrs. Emília Rocha, who turned 108 today. Radiant with happiness, Mrs. Emília thanked everyone for the beautiful party prepared for her. It was a day filled with emotion, affection, and sharing — a true example of vitality and love for life!” read a note.
Life Expectancy in Portugal is 82.5 Years
Life expectancy at birth in 2023 increased to 81.4 years on average in the European Union (EU) and to 82.5 years in Portugal.
According to Eurostat data released in March, in the EU, life expectancy at birth rose from 80.6 years in 2022 to 81.4 years in 2023, surpassing the 81.3 years recorded in 2019 before the pandemic.
In Portugal, life expectancy at birth grew in 2023 to 82.5 years, compared to 81.8 in the previous year and 81.9 in 2019.
Italy, with a life expectancy of 83.5 years, had the highest in 2023 among the 27 Member States, while Latvia had the lowest with 75.6 years.
