Love stories come and go, but some truly stand the test of time, like that of Brazilian lovers, Manoel Angelim Dino and Maria de Sousa Dino. At 105 and 101 years old, the couple has been by each other’s side for more than eight decades, making history with the longest marriage for a living couple (different sexes).
Their love has not only stood the test of time but also built a family spanning five generations.
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As verified by LongeviQuest – the global authority on maximum human longevity –the centenarian couple hold the record for the world’s longest-lasting marriage where both spouses are still living, and their love story is one of the longest unions ever recorded in history.
Manoel and Maria’s paths first crossed in the late 1930s, when Manoel travelled to the Almeida region in Ceará, Brazil, to collect rapaduras, a traditional sugar candy. There, he met Maria, but their paths parted before anything blossomed.
Years later, fate brought them together again, and this time, Manoel knew Maria was the one. Winning over her family took time—her mother was initially against the match—but Manoel proved his devotion by building a home for the future they would share.
The couple married on 20 November 1940 and built a life of love, resilience, and hard work.
They raised 13 children, and their family has since grown to include 55 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren, and 14 great-great-grandchildren, the authority confirms. More than 100 descendants now celebrate the love story that started it all.
Images: LongeviQuest
In their later years, Manoel and Maria enjoy a quiet routine. Manoel spends most of his day resting, but every evening, he joins Maria in the living room to listen to the rosary prayer on the radio, followed by televised mass. It’s a small but meaningful ritual—one of many they’ve shared over the decades.
When asked about the secret to a love that lasts a lifetime, Maria has a simple answer: love. No formulas, no tricks—just unwavering commitment and choosing each other every day.
Here’s to Manoel and Maria—proof that love knows no limits.
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Feature Image: LongeviQuest
