| Onehea Lepean | |
 Lepean on her 106th birthday in 2022. | |
| Birth: | 23 February 1916 Teavaro, Moorea-Maiao, French Polynesia |
| Death: | 8 August 2023 Taunoa, Papeete, French Polynesia |
| Age: | 107 years, 166 days |
| Country: |  PYF, FRA
|
| Centenarian | |
Oerea/Onehea Lepean (née Chin Yu Chao; 23 February 1916 – 8 August 2023), also known as Ah Han, was a French Polynesian centenarian who was the oldest known living person in French Polynesia at the time of her death. She is also the oldest known person ever from French Polynesia.
Biography[]
Onehea Lepean was born in Teavaro, Moorea-Maiao, French Polynesia on 23 February 1916. Her parents were Tchoon Tchen Yen (c.1894–1963) and Li Tchen Wong (c.1892–1932), two Chinese immigrants. They were farmers. She was the oldest of five siblings. When her mother died, she had to take care of her siblings.
In 1934, she married Joseph (Lai Peang Siong) Lepean. The couple had five children. They travelled between the islands to collect vanilla and export it. They lived in Orovini, then in Manuhoe (around 1941), before settling in Papeete in 1971. They woke up at 2 a.m. to cook pais (tartlets), delivered by their daughter. Lepean also did some sewing. She was widowed in 2003.
At the age of 100, Lepean moved to the nursing home Centre des Coeurs in Taunoa, Papeete. She became the oldest known living person in French Polynesia, following the death of 107-year-old Marthe Suard on 12 February 2022.
On 2 June 2023, Lepean surpassed the age of Marthe Suard and became the oldest known person ever from French Polynesia.
Lepean died in Taunoa, Papeete, French Polynesia on 8 August 2023, at the age of 107 years, 166 days.
References[]
- Oerea CHIN YU CHAO Geneanet
- Onehea Lepean, doyenne de Papeete, a fêté ses 106 ans Polynésie La 1ère, 23 February 2022
- Oerea Lepean, une des doyennes de Papeete, fête ses 106 ans Ville de Papeete, 3 March 2022
- Une polynésienne dans notre palmarès : Oerea Chin Yu Chao Lepean Les Centenaires Français, 28 February 2023
- Death mention Facebook Post, 8 August 2023
- La doyenne connue de Polynésie française nous a quittés Les Centenaires Français, 9 August 2023