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What does the world's oldest woman have in common with Rocky Balboa?

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Emma Morano is currently the oldest person in Europe.

Emma Morano, Europe's oldest woman, was born November 29, 1899. She is 117-years-young and attributes her longevity to the same habit as fictional boxer Rocky Balboa.

Highlights

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Morano, who is the last person alive to have lived in the 19th century, was born at Lake Maggiore in northern Italy.

Her birthday was celebrated with a party and concert hosted by the town of Verbania, where she currently resides.


The BBC reported Morano was born the eldest of eight children, all of whom she has outlived.

Morano eventually became the world's oldest living woman after American Susannah Mushatt Jones passed away in May.

She admits her genes play a large role in her longevity. She cited her mother, who survived to 91 and several of her sisters, who lived to see their hundredth birthdays.

The one trick Morano does admit to share with Balboa is the consumption of two raw eggs each day.

Shortly after WWI, a doctor diagnosed her with anemia, prompting her to eat the raw meal.

Morano once ate several raw eggs each day but now she is happy with two eggs and a few biscuits.


Moreno survived an abusive marriage and lost her son when he was only 6-months-old.

When speaking to a newspaper about her marriage, she shared: "He told me: 'If you're lucky you marry me, or I'll kill you.' I was only 26 years old. I got married."

She eventually kicked her abusive husband out of their home but remained married until he passed away in 1979.

Her first love died in WWI and after her horrible marriage she explained, "I didn't want to be dominated by anyone."

She is convinced her freedom from men and diet of eggs are what led to her long life.

She lives alone in a small two-room apartment and her neighbors check in on her periodically but she remains in general good health.

The New York Times reported Morano cares little of historic events but clings tightly to personal memories.

"My sisters and I loved to dance and we'd run away to the dance hall and then our mother would come looking for us with a birch stick," she recalled.

Dr. Carlo Bava, her primary care doctor, explained: "She's aware of the privilege of living," and has accepted aches and pains as part of the aging process.

"If all my patients were like this, I could have spent my days reading newspapers," he added.

The town of Verbania was inspired by her life story and created a musical in her honor, which is performed often in Verbania.

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The writers explained the play "represents the feminine courage which rebelled against domestic violence."

Though the musical was created to honor Morano, she has refused to leave her apartment for the last two decades and will likely never see it.

Though she refuses to leave, many stop by to wish her a happy birthday, including Dr. Bava, who told AFP she is like "the keeper of the Tower of Pisa. The day it topples over, someone will be held responsible. When Emma dies, people will hold me accountable."

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