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Misao Okawa, Oldest Known Person in World, Dies at 117

Misao Okawa, 117, died early Wednesday at a nursing home in Osaka. She was born on March 5, 1898.
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/ Source: NBC News

The oldest living person in the world, 117-year-old Misao Okawa, died early Wednesday morning of natural causes, according to the nursing home in Osaka city where she had been living.

The nursing home told NBC News that she had recently started to eat less and was worried about her condition.

Okawa’s passing comes a little less than a month after she celebrated her birthday, surrounded by her 92-year-old eldest son and his family, as well as the local media.

When the super centenarian was asked whether 117 years was long or short, she replied "its’s short."

Born on March 5, 1898, Okawa helped with her family’s clothing business until she married when she was 21 and had 3 children, 3 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

She was given the the title of oldest person by Guinness World Records in 2013.

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