Soledad Mexia

Soledad Mexia

Mexia in 2010
Born Soledad Bonillas
August 13, 1899[1]
La Noria, Sinaloa, Mexico
Died August 30, 2013
(114 years, 17 days)[2]
Chula Vista, California, USA
Cause of death Respiratory failure
Residence San Diego, California
Occupation Supercentenarian
Children 7 children (24 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren)

Soledad Mexia (August 13, 1899 – August 30, 2013)[1][3] was a Mexican-born American supercentenarian who at the time of her death was the world's sixth-oldest living person and the oldest living resident of California.[4] She was also the oldest verified Mexican-born person ever,[2] until being surpassed by Dominga Velasco on May 30, 2015.

Biography

Soledad Mexia was born in La Noria, Sinaloa, Mexico, to Benigno and Refugio Bonillas[5] on August 13, 1899. She was the youngest of two daughter. At 20, she married Juan Mexia, a carpenter who constructed sets for the theater and opera in Mazatlan. The newlyweds lived for a time in Los Angeles and Phoenix, but always returned to Sinaloa. Mrs. Mexia moved to south San Diego County for good in the early 1960s, living with her children until she moved to a Nursing home in 2011.[6] She had seven children, 24 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren,[7] and lived most of her life in San Diego, California, United States. She was homemaker who raised seven children and lived to see nine great-great-grandchildren born, she enjoyed cooking, singing and watching her “novelas” (Spanish soap operas) on television.[8]

Due to her longevity, scientists in Los Angeles affiliated with the Gerontology Research Group, UCLA, and Stanford University took blood samples from Mexia and her family members as part of a study comparing genes from supercentenarians with a control group, looking for evidence of genes that protect against common fatal illnesses.[7]

Health and death

She suffered a wound in her leg in the spring of 2010. As the wound failed to respond to antibiotics, in July of that year her leg was amputated below the knee.[7]

On August 30, 2013, Mexia died due to respiratory insufficiency seventeen days after her 114th birthday, at a hospice in Chula Vista, California.[2] She was previously thought to be the fifth-oldest living person worldwide.[9] In fact, she was in sixth place because Gertrude Weaver (born July 4, 1898) was certified afterwards.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Oldest Validated Living Supercentenarians". Gerontology Research Group. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Mexico's longest lived resident dies at 114". KTVN. Associated Press. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Photos of Women Superentenarians". Gerontology Research Group.
  4. ↑ "State's oldest person dies at 114". U-T San Diego. August 30, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  5. ↑ http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2013/Sep/03/soledad-mexia-oldest-california
  6. ↑ http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2013/Sep/03/soledad-mexia-oldest-california/
  7. 1 2 3 Diane Bell, in San Diego Union Tribune, August 11, 2010
  8. ↑ http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2013/Sep/03/soledad-mexia-oldest-california
  9. ↑ "Mexican Woman Who Was 5th Oldest Person Dies in California". Latin American Herald Tribune. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
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