Katarina Pucić, an Istrian woman who used to be the oldest person in Croatia at the age of 108 years, died on Thursday in her village of Žagrići near Žminj in central Istria, reported Glas Istre on April 28th, 2017.
Nonna Kata, as she was known in her community, celebrated her 108th birthday ten days ago. She was born on April 19th 1909 and moved to Žagrići in 1929, where she resided until the day of her death. She has been sharing the household with her eldest son Frane since her husband Zvane Pucić died in 1996 at the age of 95. She had four siblings, her last living sister dying before her at the age of 100. Kata left behind three sons in their 80s, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
In recent years, Kata’s birthday celebrations have been featured in the local media. Repeatedly asked about the secrets of living a long, happy life, she used to reply that she owed her longevity to hard work, good food and moderation in all things. She had diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney stones, but always remarked she had no need to complain as she didn’t have serious health problems. The only issue seemed to be a recent ban on rakija, which she used to call her elixir of youth: her doctor forbade her to drink wine and spirits at the age of 107.
Kata has outlived multiple regimes, vividly recalling all periods from the Austrian and the Italian rule to Tito and Yugoslavia. The best part of her life, as she used to say, was her youth. When she turned 103, asked for a comment, she said: “We live and die at God’s will. Be good, work, and always be honest.”
