Sardinian family sets longevity record

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PERDASDEFOGU, Italy, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- The Melis family of Sardinia, featuring siblings ranging in age from 78 to 105, hold a record for family longevity, a newspaper on the Italian island said.

It took Guinness World Records researchers seven years of careful investigation, but the Italian family, with a combined age of 818 years and 205 days, as of June 1, is a record holder and a legend in their hometown of Perdasdefogu, the newspaper La Nuova Sardegna reported Monday.

Eldest is Consolata Melis, who turns 105 Wednesday, followed by Claudia, 99, Maria, 97, brother Antonio, 93, and Concetta, 91. The baby, Adolfo, is 89, and is still employed at a local bar, the Italian news agency ANSA said Monday.

Concetta claims to be the happiest because, she says, she is surrounded by nine children, 24 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren, the newspaper said.