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PERDASDEFOGU, SARDINIA, ITALY - 29 JUNE 2013: (L-R) Claudina Melis' sons Fabio Lai (ex mayor of Perdasdefogu), Father Gianmarco Lai (a missionary priest in Madagascar) the day before their mother's 100th birthday in Perdasdefogu, Italy, on June 29th 2013.

Last year, the Melis family entered the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest combined age of any nine living siblings on earth — today more than 825 years. The youngest sibling, Mafalda – the "little one" – is 79 years old.

The Melis siblings were all born in Perdasdefogu to Francesco Melis and Eleonora Mameli, who had a general store. Consolata, 106, is the oldest, then Claudia, 100; Maria, 98; Antonino, 94; Concetta, 92; Adolfo, 90; Vitalio, 87; Fida Vitalia, 81; and Mafalda, the baby at 79. Their descendants now account for about a third of the village.

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©2013 Gianni Cipriano
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www.giannicipriano.com
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20130629_NYT_Sardinia
PERDASDEFOGU, SARDINIA, ITALY - 29 JUNE 2013: (L-R) Claudina Melis' sons Fabio Lai (ex mayor of Perdasdefogu), Father Gianmarco Lai (a missionary priest in Madagascar) the day before their mother's 100th birthday in Perdasdefogu, Italy, on June 29th 2013.<br /> <br /> Last year, the Melis family entered the Guinness Book of World Records for having the highest combined age of any nine living siblings on earth — today more than 825 years. The youngest sibling, Mafalda – the "little one" – is 79 years old.<br /> <br /> The Melis siblings were all born in Perdasdefogu to Francesco Melis and Eleonora Mameli, who had a general store. Consolata, 106, is the oldest, then Claudia, 100; Maria, 98; Antonino, 94; Concetta, 92; Adolfo, 90; Vitalio, 87; Fida Vitalia, 81; and Mafalda, the baby at 79. Their descendants now account for about a third of the village.