The oldest man alive recently passed away in Venezuela and is being remembered for his loyalty to family and faith.

Juan Vicente Pérez Mora passed away on April 2 in Táchira, Venezuela. His 115 birthday was just a few weeks away, having been born on May 27, 1909. 

Back in 2022, Mora received the Guinness World Record for being the oldest person alive at 112 years and 253 days old. 

When Guinness asked him the secret to a long life, Mora replied, “Work hard, rest on holidays, go to bed early, drink a glass of aguardiente [a sugar-based liquor] every day, love God, and always carry Him in your heart.”

Mora was the ninth child in a family with 10 children. Mora married Ediofina del Rosario García and together they had six sons and five daughters.

Nuestro querido Juan Vicente Pérez Mora, hoy con profunda tristeza y dolor nos despedimos de usted, de ese arquetipo de hombre tachirense, humilde, trabajador, apacible, entusiasta de la familia y la tradición. pic.twitter.com/ohiPzrsWgD

— Freddy Bernal (@FreddyBernal) April 3, 2024

Family was central to Mora, who celebrated his 60th wedding anniversary with his wife before she passed away in 1997. On top of their children the couple had 42 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

“My Uncle Vicente transmits a lot of peace, tranquility and radiates a lot of joy,” Mora’s nephew Freddy Abreu shared in an interview in 2022. “He’s a person who has a lot to give. He enjoys the simple things in life and is very grateful to God.”

Political leaders in Venezuela took to X to share their tribute to Mora’s life. 

“Juan Vicente Pérez Mora has transcended into eternity at 114 years old,” says Prsident Nicolás Maduro on X. “I send my hugs and condolences to his family and to all the people of El Cobre, Táchira state. May God receive him in his holy glory.”

Este artículo fue publicado originalmente en CHV Radio.

Sylvia St. Cyr es locutora de radio en CHVN, un medio cristiano en Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canadá.