Tinotenda Hove – Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, a Brazilian nun recognized as the world’s oldest living person, passed away peacefully on April 30, 2025, at the age of 116.

She was born on June 8, 1908, in Rio Grande do Sul and embraced religious life in her twenties, dedicating decades of service to the Teresian Sisters. Her deep spirituality was matched by her spirited love for Sport Club Internacional—so much so that her birthday cakes were often designed to resemble the football club’s stadium.

In 2018, she received a blessing from Pope Francis. Her family shared that Sister Inah often said her strong faith was the reason she lived so long. Her passing wasn’t due to illness; rather, her body naturally slowed with age.

She spent her final years at the Teresian Sisters’ home in Porto Alegre, where she had been living comfortably.

Following her death, the title of the world’s oldest living person passed to Ethel Caterham, a 115-year-old woman from the UK.

In a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter), Sport Club Internacional expressed sorrow over her death, honoring her as someone who lived a life of kindness, devotion, and loyalty to her favorite team.

Sister Rita Fernandes Barbosa, who lived alongside her, described her as someone who rarely faced health issues. “She didn’t need surgery until she was 106, and even then, it was only for cataracts,” she explained.

Although her hearing and eyesight declined in later years, Sister Inah remained committed to her daily schedule—rising, eating, praying, and resting at set times, something her family said gave her a sense of peace and order.

Sister Terezinha Aragon, who reflected on her life when she became the world’s oldest person in early 2025, said, “She was always thankful, never complained, and had a joyful spirit.”

Sister Inah’s calling to religious life began early. At 16, she joined a faith-based boarding school. Before she officially became a nun, she spent a short time living in Montevideo, Uruguay. She returned to Brazil in 1930 and became a teacher, instructing students in Portuguese and mathematics in Rio de Janeiro.

Sister Rita believes her long life can be credited to her dedication and routine. “She was incredibly organized and hardworking, always full of warmth and hospitality,” she said.