Ecuadorian Wife From 'World's Oldest Married Couple' Loses 110-Year-Old Husband

A couple from Ecuador was named the world's oldest married couple.

Julio Cesar Mora Tapia, 110, and Waldramina Maclovia Quintero Reyes, 104, dated for seven years before getting married on Feb. 7, 1941. They then spent the rest of their lives together.

However, after decades of sharing their lives together, Reyes would have to start anew after her husband passed away last week. Tapia was born on Mar. 10, 1910. Reyes was born on Oct. 16, 1915.

The couple earlier said that it was a great honor and pride to have been recognized by the Guinness World because it is the highest award the world recognizes.

"It is true that at this time it is difficult because we are overwhelmed by the pandemic that affects the world and we still do not have a solution. However, the first step for us is to follow the rules with respect and love life," the couple said in a Wearemitu report.

The couple met during Reyes' school vacation. An Insider report said that she was visiting her sister, who was Tapia's neighbor at that time.

The report also noted that Reyes loved Tapia's talent for poetry writing. Tapia was stunned by Reyes' beauty and character.

Earlier Interviews

Earlier interviews of the couple revealed that they struggled in their relationship mainly due to their families' disapproval.

The couple decided to get married at La Iglesia de El Belén without their relatives' presence. Reyes recalled that the two of them never argued or fought about little more than "trivial things."

The couple spent their years as teachers and had five children together. All of their children have college degrees, which they consider one of their greatest achievements. The couple has 11 grandchildren, with 21 great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren.

The two had loved going out together to watch movies, garden, and having big family dinners. However, Tapia and Reyes could not be with their extended family due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The couple said the "secret formula" to a long, happy marriage is love, maturity, and mutual respect. They noted that the love and maturity that they both had from the beginning of the marriage allowed them to know each other and grow emotionally to define their future together.

"It was not easy because our relatives did not have a good relationship, but with time and patience we were able to unite them and we became an example and the best reference for the younger generations," the couple said in a report.

They added that unity is also the key to a long-lasting partnership. They said that family unity under the rules of love, mutual respect, honest work, and proper education based on family values are the key to a healthy coexistence.

Before Tapia and Reyes, Japanese couple Masao Matsumoto and Miyako Sonoda hold the title for being the oldest living married couple.

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Ecuadorian Spouses Break a Record for Being the Oldest Married Couple