Lucile Randon

Lucile Randon (French: [ly.sil ʁɑ̃.dɔ̃]; born 11 February 1904), also known as Sister André (French: Sœur André), is a French supercentenarian, who at the age of 118 years, 81 days, is the world's oldest verified living person, following the death of Japanese supercentenarian Kane Tanaka.[1][2] She is the oldest known survivor of the COVID-19 pandemic, having tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 a month before her 117th birthday.[3][4] Randon resides in a nursing home in Toulon, France. She is a Roman Catholic nun, having converted to Catholicism as a young adult, working as a governess, teacher and missionary before retiring at the age of 75.

Lucile Randon
Randon in 2022
Born(1904-02-11)11 February 1904
(age 118 years, 81 days)
Alès, Gard, France
Other namesSister André
OccupationRoman Catholic nun
Known forOldest known living person
(since 19 April 2022)

Biography
Randon as a child, c. 1910

Randon was born on 11 February 1904 in Alès, France to Paul Randon and Alphonsine Delphine Yéta Soutoul. Her siblings included two older brothers and a twin sister named Lydie who died a year after Lucile was born.[5][6] She grew up in a Protestant family and her grandfather was a pastor.[6] She became a governess to three children in Marseille when she was twelve years old in 1916. Her position was upgraded when she was hired as both a governess and teacher to a prominent family at Versailles in 1922.[7] She converted to Catholicism the following year at the age of 19.[6] Her work as a governess and teacher at Versailles lasted until 1936.[7] Randon worked as a babysitter during World War II, looking after children. She joined the Catholic order Daughters of Charity in 1944, and took the name Sister André in honour of her deceased brother.[5][6]

After World War II ended, Randon went on a mission to a hospital in Vichy, where she served orphans and elders. Her mission lasted 18 years until she was sent to another hospital at La Baume-d'Hostun, Drôme for night duty in 1963.[7] She retired in 1979 at the age of 75, and entered the EHPAD in the Marches at Savoie where she resided for the next 30 years. She moved to a retirement home in Toulon on 25 October 2009.[5][8] She went blind in the 2010s.[6] When she turned 115, Pope Francis sent her a personal letter and a blessed rosary.[5] On her 118th birthday, Randon received a birthday note from French President Emmanuel Macron.[9] In 2021, she said she was happy at her home, although wished to join her grandparents and brother in heaven.[5] She has also expressed joy at being "pampered" by her family.[9] Randon enjoys chocolate and drinks a glass of wine every day.[9]

Health and longevity

After the death of Honorine Rondello on 19 October 2017, she became the oldest living person in France.[10]

On 16 January 2021, Randon tested positive for COVID-19 in an outbreak at her retirement home that infected 81 of 88 residents. She was asymptomatic and tested negative days before her 117th birthday.[1][3][11]

On 19 April 2022, she became the world's oldest verified living person after the death of Kane Tanaka.[2]

See also

References
  1. Peltier, Elian (10 February 2021). "A French Nun Turns 117 After Knocking Down Covid-19". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  2. "French nun Sister Andre, 118, claims title of world's oldest person". France24. 25 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  3. "Europe's oldest person survives Covid just before 117th birthday". BBC News. 9 February 2021. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  4. "Europe's oldest person, a 117-year-old French nun, survives COVID-19". WCVB. 11 February 2021. Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  5. Peiser, Jaclyn; Hassan, Jennifer. "Nun who survived flu pandemic, both world wars and coronavirus celebrates 117th birthday with red wine". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  6. "Sœur André fête ses 117 ans et souhaite un bon anniversaire à Radio Vatican". Vatican News (in French). 10 February 2021. andre)-117-ans-voeux-radio-vatican.html Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)
  7. "La doyenne de Toulon a 112 ans". Mairie de Toulon (in French). 9 February 2016. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  8. "Europe's oldest person, 117-year-old French nun, survives COVID-19". Reuters. 12 February 2021. Archived from the original on 6 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  9. Bouvier, Simon; Xu, Xiaofei; Knight, Camille; Lemercier, Elias (26 April 2022). "The world's oldest person is a French nun who enjoys chocolate and wine". CNN. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  10. CNNWire (10 February 2021). "World's second-oldest person survives COVID-19 at age 116". ABC7 Chicago. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  11. Willsher, Kim (9 February 2021). "Europe's oldest person survives COVID and set to celebrate 117th birthday". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
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