MEAWW.COM / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

How did Sister Andre die? World's oldest person and Guinness World Record holder dies at 118

Lucile Randon, who adopted the name Sister André in 1944, is the second-oldest European and second-oldest French individual ever documented

PARIS, FRANCE: French nun, Sister André, believed to be the oldest known person in the world, died at the age of 118 in Toulton on January 17. Born in the southern French city of Ales on 11 February, 1904, as Lucile Randon, Sister Andre was officially recognized as the oldest living person by Guiness World Records in 2022, after the death of 119-year-old Kane Tanaka of Japan.

Sister Andre is the second-oldest European and second-oldest French individual ever documented, according to Guinness. She adopted the name Sister André in 1944. Guinness World Records expressed sadness at her death demise and sent condolences to her family and friends. The Guinness world record holder was just over three years away from becoming the oldest person ever, a record held by Jeanne Louise Calment of France, who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old.

ALSO READ

How did former Pope Benedict XVI die? First German pontiff in a millenium dead at 95

Did Lisa Marie Presley REALLY leave Scientology? Singer raised eldest children Riley and Benjamin in church

Sainte-Catherine-Laboure nursing home spokesperson David Tavella said that Sister André died at 2 am on Tuesday at the nursing home in Toulon, The Washington Post reported. Irish publication, Her, quoted Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief for Guinness World Records, as saying, "How incredible that we shared the same air as someone who was born just a couple of months after the Wright Brothers' first powered flight - and a few months before the New York subway system opened."

In 2022, Sister Andre reportedly received a handwritten birthday note from French President Emmanuel Macron, the 18th person to have led the European country during her lifetime. Apart from being the oldest person to have survived the Covid-19 pandemic, Sister André also lived through the 1918 Great Influenza epidemic, making her one of the few people in the world to have seen two global health crises. 

'Imagine what the dear Sister saw in her lifetime': Internet pays their last respects

Since the news of Sister André's death was made public, several people have taken to Twitter to pay their respects and offer condolences to the sister's loved ones. Expressing his grief, Rev Ronald M. Vierling tweeted, "Sister André the world’s oldest person at age 118 has died a few weeks short of her 119th birthday. May she rest in the peace of Christ."

Commenting on the post, a netizen wrote, "Wow. Imagine what the dear Sister saw in her lifetime. May she Rest In Peace in Paradise". "She was truly blessed to have lived such a long earthly life!" wrote a second user. "May she rest in peace through the mercy and love of Jesus Christ her spouse! Mama Mary pray and intercede for her soul Ave Maria!" a third user commented. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.