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Paris, Friday, November 3, 2000 World's Oldest Woman Dies At Nearly 115
The Associated Press
LONDON - The world's oldest woman, who attributed her longevity to boiled onions and a daily tot of whisky, died Thursday - six days short of her 115th birthday. Eva Morris died in her sleep at a nursing home in the central England town of Stone, staff members said. ''She was a grand old lady,'' said Lesley Powell, the matron of the home. ''I'd spoken to her about a week ago and told her she was going to be 115. She just said 'Oh, really?'''
Mrs. Morris was recognized as the oldest woman in the world by the Guinness Book of Records in March.
Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1885, Mrs. Morris was widowed in the 1930s. She lived in her own apartment until she was 107, when she moved to the nursing home. Her only child, Winnie, died in 1975.
The oldest person ever with authenticated records was Jeanne Calment of France, who died in 1997 at age 122.