Gabrielle Melard

Gabrielle Georgette Edmie Jacqueline Josephine Melard (born 31 July 1909) is a Belgian supercentenarian whose age is currently unvalidated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).

Biography
Melart was born in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium, on 31 July 1909. She was born as the daughter of Michel Melard, an antique dealer from Wonck, and his wife Augusta Toussaint, a tailor from Brussels. Her father soon abandoned the family, so Melart hardly knew him. During the First World War she moved to Liege where she was raised by her uncle and aunt. She continued to live there until they passed away. Melart subsequently continued to live in Liege, she worked as a clerk but later became a nurse. She never married.

Until her old age, she kept visiting her family in Brussels by public transport. At the age of 94, she moved into a retirement home in Auderghem to be closer to her family. Since she always led an independent life, in the beginning she had some adjustment problems in the retirement home. She was mainly concerned with reading and watching television and according to the nursing staff, she always had a good appetite, with a preference for desserts.

At the age of 107, she suffered a severe pneumonia but recovered. She gradually became blind and deaf, making communication difficult. In July 2019, she celebrated her 110th birthday. It was the first time Belgium had 5 living supercentenarians.

Melart currently lives in Auderghem (Oudergem), Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium at the age of.