Lucia Laura Sangenito was born in Sturno, Campania, Italy on 22 November 1910. Longevity runs in her family: her mother lived to age 101. On 2 February 1939, she got married and went on to have four children, of whom two died immediately after birth. She has two surviving children today, Michele and Maria. In her younger years, she worked as an agricultural laborer and served as a midwife for the children of Sturno. Her husband was a farmer. She voted for the Republic in the 1946 Italian institutional referendum.

Her husband passed away in 2010, aged 98, one month before Mrs. Sangenito’s 100th birthday. In May 2018, at the age of 107, she fell, fracturing her femur, and subsequently underwent surgery. At time of her 110th birthday, she had two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. When interviewed by the online newspaper Ottopagine, she said, “I have made many sacrifices… I am happy with my life, even if I died immediately, I would be happy for what I have experienced. We always thank God. What He wants, I do. He gave me these years and I’m taking them.” It is reported that she favors light meals, dislikes sweets, has a preference for vegetables, and enjoys broth in the evening. Sangenito currently lives in Sturno, Campania, Italy.