Germaine Degueldre

Germaine Degueldre
Birth:	26 September 1900 Binche, Hainaut, Belgium
Death:	11 May 2012 Waudrez, Hainaut, Belgium
Age:	111 years, 228 days
Country:	BEL
Validated

Germaine Degueldre (26 September 1900 – 11 May 2012) was a Belgian supercentenarian whose age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). At the time of her death, she was the oldest living person in Belgium, as well as the last living Belgian born in the 19th century.

Biography

Germaine Degueldre was born in Binche, Belgium on 26 September 1900. Later in her life, she married Yvon Degueldre. She was a housewife and assisted her husband who managed the family garage. The couple had two sons, Yvon et Max.

She became a widow when her husband died at age 88.

Her passions were music and drawing. She moved to retirement home Clairfayt in 2006. She was described as calm and very lucid and was very healthy at an advanced age; Germaine has always taken very few medications. She sleeps a lot, eats very well even though she has a small weakness for chocolate. Sometimes she recites to us poems from her childhood, she plays Lotto, dominoes with other residents. It is his secret of longevity, one of the Healthcare worked said about her.

Germaine Degueldre died unexpectedly (as she was still healthy the day before her death) on 11 May 2012 in Waudrez at the age of 111 years, 228 days. Following her death, Fanny Godin became the oldest living person in Belgium.

Gallery

Germaine Degueldre as young woman.

Germaine Degueldre and Dr. Stephen Coles in October 2010.

Germaine Degueldre receives an honorary plaque from Mon. Anthony Croes-Lacroix on behalf of the Supercentenarian Research Foundation in February 2011.

Germaine Degueldre on her 111th birthdaty.

References

• Gerontology Research Group
• Germaine Degueldre, âgée de 110 ans, est la nouvelle doyenne de Belgique
• Germaine Degueldre, doyenne des Belges, a fêté ses 111 ans à Waudrez (centenaire, ça vous tente?) La Nouvelle Gazette.be

Belgium's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • E)

Charlotte Cardinal • Marie Rolland • Anna Versluys • Sophie Lacompte • Maria Vleminckx • Marie Gomain • Norbertine Fourdin • Marie Vandermoesen • Isabelle Tack • Maria Vandewinckel • Maria Gorsen • Marie Delfairiere • Ignace Demol • Herlindis Goeminne • Theresia Van Den Broucke • Maximilienne Pierquain • Sidonie Hayez • Caroline Fievet • Francisca Cloet • Marie-Louise Van Hoorebeeck • Hendrik Bulterijs • Barbara Simoens • Theresia De Petter • Adele Vandenbosch • Marie Salmon • Constant De Lichte • Helene Lebon • Marie Purnode • Eugenie Tecqmenne • Catherine Baert • Marie Lambotte • Fanny Thonus • Marie-Louise Vandenbroucke • Denise Durel • Maria Devos • Marguerite Dewal • Sophie Leys • Maria Wintgens • Eugenie Boulanger • Emiel Carbon • Kamiel Steyaert • Flore Carpentier • Maria Serneels • Frans Meeus • Mathilde Hellemans • Edmond Van Cauteren • Arthuria Dascotte • Pieter Hinnisdaels • Clement De Vos • Rosalie Beetens • Marie Lambert • Leonia Bruyndonckx • Mathilde Pirlet • Octavie Lips • L. V. • Maria Van Sprengel • Ermenie Acoe • Elisabeth Demanet • Jules-Leo Neijrinck • Maria Irma Casteur • Catharina Ververs • Marie De Ruyver • Joanna Deroover • Anne-Marie Vandermersch • Louis Marion • Victoire Ricaille • Maria Verkeyn • Maria Annaert • Irma Van de Voorde • Marcelle Droogmans • Romanie Pollet • Bernardina Van Dommelen • Gabrielle Demets • Adrienne Ledent • Germaine Degueldre • Fanny Godin • Anna De Guchtenaere • Alicia Corveleyn • Fernande De Raeve • Madeleine Dullier • Elisabeth De Proost • Marietta Bouverne • Julia Van Hool • Marcelle Levaz • Magda Janssens • Fernande Courtoy• Denise Waelbers