Japanese woman, Misao Okawa,world's oldest person dies at 117

TOKYO - Japanese woman, Misao Okawa, who is said to be the world's oldest person, died today April 1st, just a few weeks after celebrating her 117th birthday. (she's pictured above at her 116th birthday last year)

Misao died of heart failure & stopped breathing while surrounded by her family at her Osaka nursing home this morning. "She went so peacefully, as if she had just fallen asleep." her caregiver said

Feb. 27, 2013: Japan's Misao Okawa, then 114, poses with the certificate of the world's oldest woman, which was presented to her by Guinness World Records Japan Country Manager Erika Ogawa, unseen, at a nursing home in Osaka, western Japan. (Ap)
 
Okawa was born in Osaka, Japan on March 5, 1898. She was recognized as the world's oldest person by Guinness World Records in 2013. She got married in 1919, has three children who are all dead. She lost her husband in 1931. She was survived by four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

It was not immediately clear who would replace her as the world's oldest person. Guinness World Records said it had begun the process of updating the ranking.
A 115-year-old woman succeeded Okawa as Japan's oldest person, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The name of the woman, who was born March 15, 1900, was not released at the request of her family, the ministry said.
Okawa lost her appetite about 10 days ago. Until then, she had been eating well, enjoying her daily cup of coffee and her favorite dishes, including ramen, Okada said.
Okawa, the daughter of a kimono maker, said at her recent birthday celebration that her life seemed rather short.
She married her husband, Yukio, in 1919, and they had two daughters and a son. She was survived by four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her husband died in 1931.