Ioanna Proiou-Dimitriadou | |
Birth: | 2 July 1911 Raches, Icaria, Greece |
Death: | 5 April 2023 Raches, Icaria, Greece |
Age: | 111 years, 277 days |
Country: | GRE |
Unvalidated |
Ioanna Proiou-Dimitriadou [Greek: Ιωάννα Πρωίου-Δημητριάδου] (2 July 1911 – 5 April 2023) was a Greek supercentenarian whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). She was the oldest known living person in Greece and the Balkans at the time of her death.
Biography[]
Ioanna Proiou-Dimitriadou was born in Raches, Icaria, Greece on 2 July 1911. She was the 12th of 13 siblings. Her mother, Efthymia, was born in 1870 and she was from the best weavers of the island. Her father came from a wealthy family of Chios, with ships and parcels of land. From a very young age, Ioanna, learned to weave. She also learned to use the loom and from the age of 15 she was a professional weaver. Until the age of 30 she didn't want/intend to marry. In 1938 she went for first time to Athens, greek capital, in order to purchase materials, but the war blocked her there. She was married in 1941, in order to have a companion to deal with the ongoing war and the later Axis Occupation. They traveled through all Peloponnese to make a living.
At her 80s, after the death of her husband and moving from Athens to Icaria, she took the iniatiative to make the House of Loom in Raches, Icaria, as she was willing to see this art to continue flourishing. In her centenary years, she still worked at the loom and made many handmade items that she sold in her small shop in Raches. She was also likes to make small poems and songs. She was an active presence on cultural efforts and associations both in Icaria and in Nea Ionia, Athens. She was known as "The Lady of the Loom" ("Η Κυρά του Αργαλειού").
Proiou-Dimitriadou had three children, five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Longevity[]
When asked about what needs to be done for someone to live long she said: "First, do not be jealous. What the other has, what he does not have, do not care. Secondly, may my heart be good inside. To love the whole Universe. I believe in that. I do not believe in god. I believe in nature and its creations. Third, do not be skeptical. Human does not need much to live. The necessary to have suffice. You saw where greed led us. In environmental disasters, in wars and killings. I lived them and I know them. Fourth and most important, be a creator. Eat your bread with the sweat of your brow, as the Gospel says (s.s. she has read it, knows verses by heart even if she does not believe). And of course take care of your body - it carries you... These are. I tell you this and may you have my wish".
In July 2021, she celebrated her 110th birthday and became a supercentenarian. She became the oldest known living person in Greece, following the death of 110-year-old Eleni Tzovolou on 6 August 2021.
Ioanna Proiou-Dimitriadou died in Raches, Icaria, Greece on 5 April 2023 at the age of 111 years, 277 days. Following her death, then 109-year-old Kallistheni Meleonitou became the oldest known living person in Greece, and then 109-year-old Ilie Ciocan of Romania became the oldest known living person in the Balkans.
Gallery[]
References[]
- (ΒΙΝΤΕΟ) Η Κυρά του Αργαλειού, 100 χρονών στις Ράχες Ικαρίας Ikariamag.gr, 25 August 2011
- Η κυρά του Αργαλειού στο "βασίλειό" της. Ektos prog on YouTube, 15 March 2013
- Πρωϊου υφάντρα απο Ράχες Ικαρίας (106 ετων) PAPASIMOS1 on YouTube, 30 December 2016
- Η 106 ετών Κυρά του Αργαλειού: “Έρχονται να με δουν για να μάθουν γιατί ζω ακόμη». Awakengr.rg, 6 July 2017
- Ενα ελεύθερο πνεύμα Efsyn.gr, 1 September 2018
- Η Ικαριώτισα Κυρά του Αργαλειού: «Έρχονται να με δουν για να μάθουν γιατί ζω ακόμη» (pics) Tromaktiko.gr, 6 February 2019
- Γιαγιά 109 Ετών Παραδίδει Μαθήματα Ζωής!!! Νίκη Ζαρκάδα on YouTube, 29 June 2020
- Η Ικαριώτισσα «Κυρά» του αργαλειού» έγινε 110 ετών και συγκινεί με τη σοφία της (video – audio) Ertnews.gr, 6 July 2021
- Ικαρία: 110χρονη γιαγιά αποκαλύπτει το μυστικό της μακροζωίας και παραδίδει μαθήματα ζωής Tilestwra.gr, 20 January 2022
- ΙΩΑΝΝΑ ΠΡΩΪΟΥ: Mια γυναίκα 110 ετών μας δείχνει το νόημα της ζωής- «Να έχεις καλή καρδιά,να μην τα παρατάς, να μη ζηλεύεις…» (Bίντεο-Φώτο) Coffee Vibes, 11 June 2022
- Ικαρία: Πέθανε στα 112 η δασκάλα του αργαλειού Ιωάννα Πρωίου Δημητριάδου NewsIT, 6 April 2023
- Ioanna Proiou: Ikaria's "Queen of Loom Weaving" Dies at 112 Greek City Times, 7 April 2023
- Η Ικαριώτισσα Ιωάννα Πρωίου – Δημητριάδου «έφυγε» σε ηλικία 112 ετών Espresso, 7 April 2023
Greece's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • E) |
Anastasia Athanassoulas • Elpida Moschopoulos • Konstantinos Papadamis • Maria Papakyriakou • Panagiota Kraniou • Lambis Kounoupas • Eugenia Vrantis • Haido Katsara • Eleni Tzovolou • Ioanna Proiou-Dimitriadou • Kallistheni Meleonitou • Magdalini Pavlidou |