She is possibly one of the oldest women in Portugal. Maria da Silva Oliveira, from Cabanelas, municipality of Vila Verde, turned 108 years old on Thursday.
Born in 1916, she went through the first two world wars, the implementation and fall of the Estado Novo and ‘met’ nine Popes.
The secret to such longevity, granddaughter Mia Teixeira told us last year, is “work, the pragmatism with which she accepted the vicissitudes of life and faith, an unshakable faith”.
Maria Oliveira “no longer has the independence that was once characteristic of her, because the years are already weighing her down a little”.
Therefore, she also highlighted the love with which her daughter, Fátima Manhente, treats her, as the secret to a lasting life.
For the granddaughter, her grandmother’s strength “comes from her life of working in the fields, which has always been her livelihood and her escape”.
He recalled that Maria da Silva Oliveira “went through many difficulties, but her good disposition never wavered”.
“She is illiterate but has an understanding of life and a resilience capable of making anyone blush.”
Today there was a small party attended by the Cabanelas Vincentian Conference.
“For her, affection is the most valuable gift of all”, highlighted her granddaughter.
