Brazilian Oldest Nun; Sister Inah, Dies Aged 116.
Brazilian nun Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, has passed away at the remarkable age of 116, her family has confirmed.
Born on 8 June 1908 in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, Sister Inah dedicated nearly a century of her life to faith, education, and service. She died peacefully at a Teresian Sisters’ residence in Porto Alegre, where she had spent her final years. According to her nephew, she had not been ill, but her body had simply “gradually stopped” functioning.
Sister Inah joined a religious boarding school at the age of 16 and later became a Catholic nun in her early twenties. She spent much of her life teaching Portuguese and mathematics in Rio de Janeiro after returning to Brazil from Montevideo in 1930.
A devout Catholic, Sister Inah attributed her extraordinary longevity to her unwavering faith, once stating that “God is the secret to life.” She was blessed by Pope Francis in 2018 and became the world’s oldest living person earlier this year following the death of Japan’s Tomiko Itooka.
Despite her age, Sister Inah remained active and cheerful. She celebrated her 116th birthday in June 2024 donning the red scarf of her beloved football club, Sport Club Internacional. A passionate supporter, she owned numerous club shirts and a collection of pillows bearing the team’s crest. Her birthday cakes were even made in the shape of Internacional’s stadium.
Sport Club Internacional paid tribute on social media, expressing “enormous sadness” at her passing while honouring her life of “kindness, faith and love for the club.”
Sister Rita Fernandes Barbosa, coordinator at the home where she lived, described her as having been in good health for most of her life. She noted that Sister Inah had never undergone surgery until a cataract operation at the age of 106. Her family said that although her hearing and sight declined in later years, she found comfort in her daily routine of prayer, meals, and rest.
“She liked to get up, eat, pray and sleep at the same time each day,” her relatives shared with Brazilian media. Fellow Teresian nun Sister Terezinha Aragon remembered her as someone who “never complained,” always displaying gratitude and humour.
Sister Inah’s life was defined by discipline, according to those who knew her. “She always worked a lot and was very sociable and welcoming,” said Sister Rita.
Following her passing, the title of the world’s oldest living person now belongs to 115-year-old Ethel Caterham from Surrey, England.
Sister Inah’s enduring spirit and warm personality will be remembered not just by her religious community and family, but by people around the world who were inspired by her extraordinary life.