Gabrielle Demets

Gabrielle Demets (26 August 1899 - 1 May 2010) was the oldest living person in Belgium for 15 days, following the death of Bernardina van Dommelen on 16 April 2010.

Biography
Gabrielle Demets was born in Waarmaarde, Flanders, Belgium on 26 August 1899. Her parents were farmers. Gabrielle went to school in Celles, Wallonia, where she was taught French for three years. This was the reason why Gabrielle, even at advanced age, still understood the French language very well, as she was born in the Dutch speaking part of Belgium.

In 1936, Gabrielle married Charles Gerniers, who was family of Victor Gerniers, who eventually became mayor of Anzegem. Together, they would have three sons: Frans, Luc and Jaak. They runed a weaving store, but Charles already died on 21 July 1944, as he was one of the victims of the Kortrijk bombings during World War II. After his death, Gabrielle took the lead in their buisness until 1958. Later in life, only Frans left his parents' house, while Luc and Jaak stayed with her until her death.

At the age of 110 years, Gabrille still lived on her own, together with Luc and Jaak. Though she wasn't able to speak anymore, her mind was still pretty accurate, as she still followed everything on television, according to her sons. Eventually, Gabrielle moved to a nursing home after a fall, which was the reason why her health declined seriously fast.

Gabrielle Demets died of pressure ulcers on 1 May 2010 at the age of 110 years, 248 days. Following her death, Adrienne Ledent became the oldest living person in Belgium.