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Lucile Randon
Lucile Randon
Randon (aged 115) on 16 August 2019
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: FranceFRA
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 validated 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

LRandonyoung

Black and white photograph of Randon with the violin as a young girl.

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.

Lucile Randonyoung

Black and white photograph of Randon as a young woman in the 1920s.

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.

Lucile Randon 115 HonoraryCitizen

Randon on her 115th birthday in February 2019, being recognized as an honorary citizen by Hubert Falco, the mayor of Toulon.

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.

Lrandon117

Randon (aged 116) shortly before her 117th birthday in February 2021, several days after surviving COVID-19.

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 and only 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.

Lucile Randon 117

Randon on her 117th birthday in February 2021.

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.

Lucile Randon118

Randon on her 118th birthday in February 2022.

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.

LucileRandonApril2022

Randon (aged 118) in April 2022, after becoming the world's oldest living person.

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.

Lucile Randon December 2022

Randon (aged 118) on 31 December 2022, the last known photo of her.

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

References


World's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (VE)

Betsy BakerJennie HowellMarie CarstensonNancy RyanChristina Karnebeek-Backs • Marie Olsen • Mary Kelly • Elizabeth Kensley • William Fullingim • Hannah Smith • John Mosley Turner • Johanna Booysen • Marie Bernatkova • Ada Roe • Josefa Salas Mateo • Alice Stevenson • Elizabeth Watkins • Mito Umeta • Niwa Kawamoto • Sophia DeMuth • Marie-Virginie Duhem • Fannie Thomas • Augustine Tessier • Nellie Spencer • Emma WilsonAugusta Holtz • Mary McKinney • Anna Eliza Williams • Florence Knapp • Jeanne Calment • Marie-Louise Meilleur • Sarah Knauss • Eva Morris • Marie Bremont • Maud Farris-Luse • Grace Clawson • Adelina Domingues • Mae Harrington • Yukichi Chuganji • Mitoyo Kawate • Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan • Maria Capovilla • Elizabeth Bolden • Emiliano Mercado del Toro • Emma Tillman • Yone Minagawa • Edna Parker • Maria de Jesus • Gertrude Baines • Kama Chinen • Eugenie Blanchard • Maria Gomes Valentim • Besse Cooper • Dina Manfredini • Jiroemon Kimura • Misao Okawa • Gertrude Weaver • Jeralean Talley • Susannah Mushatt Jones • Emma Morano • Violet BrownNabi Tajima • Chiyo MiyakoKane TanakaLucile RandonMaria Branyas Morera


World's Oldest Living Woman Titleholders (VE)

Betsy BakerJennie HowellMarie CarstensonNancy RyanChristina Karnebeek-Backs • Marie Olsen • Mary Kelly • Elizabeth Kensley • Auguste Pahl • Hannah Smith • Yoshigiku Ito • Johanna Booysen • Marie Bernatkova • Ada Roe • Josefa Salas Mateo • Alice Stevenson • Elizabeth Watkins • Mito Umeta • Niwa Kawamoto • Sophia DeMuth • Marie-Virginie Duhem • Fannie Thomas • Augustine Tessier • Nellie Spencer • Emma Wilson • Augusta Holtz • Mary McKinney • Anna Eliza Williams • Florence Knapp • Jeanne Calment • Marie-Louise Meilleur • Sarah Knauss • Eva Morris • Marie Bremont • Maud Farris-Luse • Grace Clawson • Adelina Domingues • Mae Harrington • Mitoyo Kawate • Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan • Maria Capovilla • Elizabeth Bolden • Julie Winnefred Bertrand • Emma Tillman • Yone Minagawa • Edna Parker • Maria de Jesus • Gertrude Baines • Kama Chinen • Eugenie Blanchard • Maria Gomes Valentim • Besse Cooper • Dina Manfredini • Koto Okubo • Misao Okawa • Gertrude Weaver • Jeralean Talley • Susannah Mushatt Jones • Emma Morano • Violet Brown • Nabi Tajima • Chiyo MiyakoKane TanakaLucile RandonMaria Branyas Morera



World's Oldest Living Nun Titleholders (VE)

Anne SamsonFernande CharpentierEugenie BlanchardMaria de JaegerMarie-Josephine GaudetteLucile RandonInah Canabarro Lucas


Europe's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (VE)

Willem van Renterghem • Marie d'Evergroote • Lavina Hansdatter • Kirsti Skagen • Geert Adriaans Boomgaard • Margaret Ann Neve • Karen BrodbaekSophia Wijnberg • Agnete Olsdatter • Honor Coleman • Sophie Lacomte • Maria Vleminckx • Johanna Berns • Matthias Dodenhoff • Sarah Gardiner • Elisabeth Jensen • Britta Njeldsdatter • Frederick Stabbins • Jane Lister • Martha Truelove • Ann Sharp • Gertrud Kübbeler • Marie Delfairiere • Frances Smith • Katherine Plunket • Eliza Roff • Maria Montemurro • Ellen Palmer • Rachel MacArthur • Anne Marie SkauRachel Swain • Wilhelmine Olschewski • Mary Davey • Francesco Cubadda • Thomas Pope • John Francklow • Rebecca Lees • Sarah Fitt • Johanna Johansson • Elizabeth Sellwood • Petronella Braams • Matilda Coppins • Elizabeth Whitehead • Karl Glockner • Sarah Humphrey • Maria Johansson • Michelina Macchia • Caroline Beale • Josephine Marchal • Luise Rissmann • Christina Karnebeek-Backs • Marie Olsen • Willem Kostering • Ella Ille Rentel • Lovisa Svensson • Ellen Dart • Elizabeth Kensley • Auguste Pahl • Hannah Smith • Anna KrslencovaJohn Mosley Turner • Marie Bernatkova • Ada Roe • Josefa Salas Mateo • Alice Stevenson • Frederick Butterfield • Rose Heeley • Marie-Virginie Duhem • Josefa Llovet • Florence PannellAugustine Tessier • Jeanetta Thomas • Alice Brewster • Petronella Ribbens-Verstallen • Anna Eliza Williams • Jeanne Calment • Lucy Askew • Annie Jennings • Eva Morris • Marie Bremont • Amy Hulmes • Germaine Haye • Teresa Fumarola • Joan Riudavets-Moll • Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper • Virginia Dighero-Zolezzi • Camille Loiseau • Maria de Jesus • Manuela Fernandez-Fojaco • Lucia Lauria • Florrie Baldwin • Venere Pizzinato-Papo • Marcelle Narbonne • Marie-Therese Bardet • Maria Redaelli • Emma Morano • Ana Vela Rubio • Giuseppina Projetto • Maria Giuseppa Robucci • Lucile RandonMaria Branyas Morera


France's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • TE)

Marie LangloisRose SardaCalixte RazimbaudCatherine MoucheAuguste DecateDesiree DeloryFerdinise Nebolle • Georgette JeanmaireEugenie MarchandEugenie ProuxEmilie CoqueranLaurence EntiopeMarie-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 RandonMarie-Rose Tessier

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