Lucile Randon | |
Randon at the age of 116. | |
Birth: | 11 February 1904 Ales, Gard, Occitanie, France |
Death: | 17 January 2023 Toulon, Var, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France |
Age: | 118 years, 340 days |
Country: | FRA |
Validated |
Lucile Randon (11 February 1904 – 17 January 2023), known as Sister Andre [French: Sœur André], was a French supercentenarian who, at the age of 118 years, 340 days, was recognized by Guinness World Records as being the oldest validated living person in the world from the death of 119-year-old Kane Tanaka of Japan on 19 April 2022, until her own death on 17 January 2023. Her age is also validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).
Randon, who had been a nun for over 75 years, was the oldest living nun in the world, as well as the oldest nun ever recorded. At the age of 118 years, 340 days, she was the second-oldest French person, and the second-oldest European person ever recorded, after Jeanne Calment. Randon currently ranks as the fourth-oldest person ever recorded whose age has been validated by the GRG, after Jeanne Calment, Kane Tanaka, and Sarah Knauss.
Randon is also the oldest person confirmed to have survived COVID-19, recovering from the disease at the age of 116 after an outbreak at her retirement home in early 2021.
Following the death of Francisca Celsa dos Santos of Brazil on 5 October 2021, Randon became the last surviving validated person born in 1904. She was also the last known surviving French person born in the 1900s decade.
Randon is also the oldest person ever to have received the title of the world's oldest living person, having attained the record at the age of 118 years, 67 days at the time of Kane Tanaka's death.
Biography[]
Childhood and Religion[]
Lucile Randon was born on 11 February 1904 in Ales, Gard, Occitanie, France to Paul Randon (17 June 1866 – 27 April 1938) and Alphonsine Delphine Yeta Randon (née Soutoul; 27 March 1869 – 21 August 1936).
Randon was born in a set of twins. However, her twin sister Lydie Randon (11 February 1904 – 4 August 1905) died at the age of 17 (almost 18) months. Randon almost died alongside her sister, which her doctor predicted would happen, but managed to recover.
Randon remembered her two brothers: Andre (22 April 1892 – 7 September 1971) and Lucien (12 April 1895 – 15 July 1972) returning from World War I in 1918, one of them seriously injured, when she was 14. She later stated in an interview that it was the happiest day of her life.
Randon grew up in a Protestant family; her paternal grandfather was a pastor. She converted to Catholicism at the age of 19, and at the age of 40, she became a nun in the congregation of the Sisters of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul in Paris, taking the name of Sister Andre in honor of her older brother.
Career and Later Life[]
Randon worked as a teacher and a governess for various families, including the Peugeot family who founded the French car manufacturer. She also looked after children during World War II. After the war, she spent 28 years working with orphans and elderly people at a hospital in Vichy, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. She then spent three decades working in a nursing home located in Savoie, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes.
At the age of 91, in 1995, Randon suffered a heart attack which required surgery on her carotid artery.
In 2009, Randon moved to a retirement home in Toulon, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region, France from Savoie, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes. In 2010, Randon said it was to get closer to her familial roots in the region, saying she was a Toulonnais by blood.
At the time of her 115th birthday in 2019, Randon was asked about her secret to her longevity. She said that she did not have a secret, but believed God wanted her to live the years that her late twin sister didn't get to live, citing when she had almost died as a baby and again at the age of 91.
In 2019, Randon was made an honorary citizen of Toulon and received a letter from Pope Francis. She was blind, partially deaf, and used a wheelchair.
COVID-19 Survival[]
On 16 January 2021, Randon tested positive for COVID-19 during an outbreak which saw 53 out of the 90 residents of her retirement home infected with the disease. Randon was kept in isolation in her room, and did not suffer any symptoms other than feeling tired.
On 8 February 2021, just three days before her 117th birthday, it was reported that she had recovered, making her the oldest confirmed survivor of the disease. When asked by a journalist if she was afraid to have COVID-19, she answered: "No, I wasn't afraid, because I wasn't afraid to die." She went on to celebrate her 117th birthday on 11 February.
Prior to Randon's COVID-19 survival in February 2021, Maria Branyas Morera of Spain was previously the oldest recorded survivor of the disease.
Longevity Records[]
Ecclesiastical Records[]
Randon became the oldest known living nun in the world following the death of 115-year-old Marie-Josephine Gaudette of Italy. Randon subsequently became the oldest ecclesiastical person ever recorded after surpassing Gaudette's final age of 115 years, 110 days on 2 June 2019. Randon is also the first nun to turn 116, 117, and 118.
French Records[]
Randon became the oldest living person in France (and in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region), following the death of 114-year-old Honorine Rondello on 19 October 2017. Following the death of 114-year-old Gabrielle des Robert on 3 December 2018, Randon became the last known surviving French person born in 1904.
On 11 February 2019, Randon celebrated her 115th birthday, becoming the third person in the history of France to verifiably reach this age, after Jeanne Calment and Marie Bremont. Since surpassing Bremont's final age of 115 years, 42 days on 26 March 2019, Randon has been the second-oldest validated French person ever, behind only Calment, who lived to the age of 122 years, 164 days. Randon is the second French person to verifiably reach the ages of 116, 117, and 118.
Following the death of Valentine Ligny on 4 January 2022, Randon became the last known surviving French person born before 1909.
Following the death of Juliette Bilde on 13 December 2022, Randon became the last known surviving French person born in the 1900s decade.
Randon is currently the oldest validated person ever born in Occitanie region, and the second-oldest validated person ever to reside in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region, after Jeanne Calment.
European Records[]
Following the death of fellow Frenchwoman Gabrielle des Robert on 3 December 2018, Randon became the last known person in Europe born in 1904. She subsequently became the oldest validated living person in Europe, as well as the last known validated European born before 1905, following the death of 116-year-old Maria Giuseppa Robucci of Italy on 18 June 2019.
On 11 February 2020, Randon became the sixth recorded European to verifiably reach the age of 116.
Since surpassing Emma Morano's final age of 117 years, 137 days in 2021, Randon has held the record as the second-oldest validated European ever recorded, after Jeanne Calment.
On 11 February 2021, Randon became the third recorded European to verifiably reach the age of 117, after Calment and Emma Morano.
On 11 February 2022, Randon became only the second European person in history to reach the age of 118, and the first to do so since Jeanne Calment in 1993.
Worldwide Records[]
Since surpassing Tane Ikai's final age of 116 years, 175 days on 5 August 2020, Randon has been in the top-15 oldest people ever whose ages have been validated by the GRG.
On 24 January 2021, Randon surpassed Maria Capovilla's final age of 116 years, 347 days and became one of the top-10 oldest people ever whose ages have been validated by the GRG.
On 11 February 2021, Randon celebrated her 117th birthday, making her the 11th person overall in history to reach this age.
On 5 October 2021, Randon became the last surviving validated person born in 1904, following the death of Francisca Celsa dos Santos of Brazil.
On 30 October 2021, Randon surpassed Nabi Tajima's final age of 117 years, 260 days to become the fourth-oldest person on record whose age has been validated by the GRG.
On 23 January 2022, Randon, along with Kane Tanaka, became the last two surviving validated people born before 1906, following the death of Antonia da Santa Cruz of Brazil.
On 11 February 2022, Randon celebrated her 118th birthday, making her the fourth validated person in history to reach this age, and the first person to reach this age without holding the title of the world's oldest living person. This also marked the first time on record in which two validated people aged 118+ were both living at the same time.
Following the death of Kane Tanaka on 19 April 2022, Randon became the oldest validated living person in the world, as well as the last surviving validated person born before 1906. Randon was aged 118 years, 67 days at the time; this is the oldest age at which anyone has ever gained the title of the world's oldest living person.
Randon was the first nun and French person since Eugenie Blanchard of the French Overseas Territory of Saint Barthelemy in 2010, the first person in Metropolitan France since Marie Bremont of Pays de la Loire in 2000, and the first European person since Emma Morano of Italy in 2016, to achieve the title of the world's oldest validated living person.
Following the death of Tekla Juniewicz of Poland on 19 August 2022, Randon became the last surviving validated person born before 1907.
Death and Legacy[]
Lucile Randon died in her sleep from natural causes around 2 a.m. on 17 January 2023, at a retirement home in Toulon, Var, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France, at the age of 118 years, 340 days, just 25 days short of her 119th birthday. She is also the first validated person on record to die at the age of 118.
Following Randon's death, Maria Branyas Morera of Spain became the oldest validated living person in the world, Inah Canabarro Lucas of Brazil became the oldest validated living nun in the world, Marie-Rose Tessier of Pays de la Loire became the oldest known living person in France, and Mauritian-born Suzanne Jacquet became the oldest known living person in Toulon.
In March 2023, two months after her death, a plaque with Randon's name on it was unveiled in Toulon.
Gallery[]
External Links[]
- RENCONTRE AVEC SOEUR ANDRÉE 116 ANS, DOYENNE DE L'EUROPE ET VICE-DOYENNE DE L’HUMANITÉ Racine Solaire on YouTube, 30 August 2020
- ELLE A 117 ANS ! (la femme la plus âgée de France et d'Europe) Tiboinshape, Youtube, 19 October 2021
- In Memoriam: Lucile Randon (Soeur André) 1904-2023 Facebook
References[]
- GRG World Supercentenarian Rankings List Gerontology Research Group
- Personnes françaises les plus âgées de tous les temps Les Centenaires Français
- Lucile RANDON Geneanet
- Lucile Randon, 106 ans rayonnants Var-Matin, February 2010
- Née en 1904 : Soeur Andrée RANDON vient de fêter ses 109 ans à Toulon Province France-Sud, February 2013 (Archived)
- Soeur André fête ses 112 ans Var-Matin, 12 February 2016
- Lucille, vice-doyenne des Varois, vient de célébrer ses 113 ans Var-Matin, 14 February 2017
- France: The Oldest Nun in the World Society of Saint Pius X, 14 November 2017
- ‘The good Lord has guided me well’: 113-year-old nun reflects on blessings Crux, 26 November 2017
- La doyenne des Français est née à Alès en 1904 Midi Libre, 12 February 2018
- Doyenne des Français, sœur André fête ses 114 ans ! Aleteia, 12 February 2018
- Sœur André a 115 ans aujourd'hui et deux souhaits France Inter, 11 February 2019
- L'Europe a une nouvelle doyenne : la Française Lucile Randon, âgée de 115 ans France Info, 16 August 2019
- Sœur André, la nouvelle doyenne européenne, 115 ans, est née à Alès ! Midi Libre, 17 August 2019
- Toulon : Soeur André, doyenne d’Europe fête ses 116 ans France Info, 12 February 2020
- The World’s Oldest Nun Celebrates 116th Birthday – Here’s Her Secret to Happiness ChurchPop, 13 February 2020
- Aujourd'hui SœurAndré (presque) 117 ans ehpadscl on Instagram, 10 November 2020
- À Toulon, l'Ehpad de la doyenne des Européens confirme que plus de la moitié de ses résidents sont positifs à la Covid-19 Var-Martin, 18 January 2021
- À 117 ans, la doyenne européenne a vaincu le Covid-19 Le Point, 8 February 2021
- Sœur André, 116 ans et doyenne des Français, a vaincu le coronavirus BFM TV, 9 February 2021
- French nun, Europe's oldest person, beats Covid-19 on eve of 117th birthday France 24, 9 February 2021
- 117th birthday Michel Pebreuil on Facebook, 11 February 2021
- Europe's oldest person turns 117 after defeating Covid-19 Daily Sabah, 11 February 2021
- Merci aux élèves de la classe de français de l’école américaine alterknights pour ces magnifiques cartes envoyées à l’occasion des 117 ans de soeurandré ehpadscl on Instagram, 3 March 2021
- De la Première Guerre mondiale au Foyer Notre-Dame, la vie de Sœur André, 117 ans Le Dauphiné, 10 July 2021
- Vous avez quel âge vous Tibo InShape on TikTok, 13 October 2021
- Heaven can wait Global Times, 10 February 2022
- Soeur Andrée, la doyenne des Français née à Alès, fête ses 118 ans Midi Libre, 11 February 2022
- France's Oldest Woman Turns 118 Barron's, 11 February 2022
- World’s oldest person confirmed as 118-year-old Sister André Guinness World Records, 25 April 2022
- French nun Sister Andre, 118, claims title of world's oldest person France 24, 25 April 2022
- French Nun Who Enjoys Chocolate and Wine Becomes Oldest Person Alive at 118 People Magazine, 27 April 2022
- The world’s oldest person is a French nun who enjoys chocolate and wine CNN, 27 April 2022
- World's oldest person, Lucile Randon, dies aged 118 Guinness World Records, 17 January 2023
- Mort de la doyenne de l’humanité : la Française sœur André est décédée à 118 ans Le Parisien, 17 January 2023
- The world's oldest known person, French nun Lucile Randon, dead at 118 France 24, 18 January 2023
- The world’s oldest person, a French nun, dies at 118 CNN, 18 January 2023
- Lucile Randon, the oldest person in the world, dies at 118 Al Jazeera, 18 January 2023
- Lucile Randon (1904–2023), world’s oldest person Legacy.com, 19 January 2023
- Sister Andre Lucile Randon Find A Grave
- Médiathèque de Chalucet : la salle « Sœur André » dédiée à l’art et à la beauté Ville de Toulon, 21 March 2023
World's Oldest Living Nun Titleholders (V • E) |
Anne Samson • Fernande Charpentier • Eugenie Blanchard • Maria de Jaeger • Marie-Josephine Gaudette • Lucile Randon • Inah Canabarro Lucas |
France's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • T • E) |
Marie Langlois • Rose Sarda • Calixte Razimbaud • Catherine Mouche • Auguste Decate • Desiree Delory • Ferdinise Nebolle • Georgette Jeanmaire • Eugenie Marchand • Eugenie Proux • Emilie Coqueran • Laurence Entiope • Marie-Ernestine Compain • Marie-Virginie Duhem • Frederique Noel • Augustine Tessier • Elisa Esnault • Elvire Mendiboure • Eugenie Roux • Jeanne Calment • Marie-Helene Chanteperdrix • Jeanne Dumaine • Marie Bremont • Germaine Haye • Anne Primout • Camille Loiseau • Marie-Simone Capony • Clementine Solignac • Eugenie Blanchard • Maria Diaz • Marcelle Narbonne • Marie-Therese Bardet • Paule Bronzini • Irenise Moulonguet • Suzanne Burrier • Marie Liguinen • Olympe Amaury • Eudoxie Baboul • Elisabeth Collot • Honorine Rondello • Lucile Randon • Marie-Rose Tessier |