April 1, 2015: Misa Okawa, the world's oldest woman, died in Japan at the age of 117. Okawa suffered heart failure and died peacefully in her sleep at her nursing home. Born in Osaka on March 5, 1898, Okawa became the world's oldest person in 2013 when she was recognized by Guinness World Records. She was the daughter of a kimono maker. Her passing makes American Gertrude Weaver of Arkansas the world's oldest person. She is 116.