Lucile Randon (sister André)
- Full name: Lucile Randon, known as Sister Andre [French: Sœur André]
- Lifespan: (11.02.1904 – 17.01.2023)
- Age: 118 years, 340 days
- Birthplace: Ales, Gard Department, Occitanie, France
- Last residence: Toulon, Var Department, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France
- Application date: 29.01.2016
- Validation date: 26.10.2016
- Validation source: Guinness World Records/Cyril Depoudent
Biography
Lucile Randon 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.
Early life
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 one of a set of twins, with her sister Lydie Randon (11 February 1904 – 4 August 1905) passing away at almost 18 months old. Both twins fell seriously ill, and although the doctor predicted Randon’s demise, she managed to recover.
At the age of 14, Randon experienced a joyous moment when her two brothers, Andre (22 April 1892 – 7 September 1971) and Lucien (12 April 1895 – 15 July 1972), returned from World War I in 1918. One of them was seriously injured, making it a significant day in her life.
Growing up in a Protestant family with a paternal grandfather who was a pastor, Randon converted to Catholicism at 19. When she turned 40, she entered the congregation of the Sisters of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul in Paris, taking the name of Sister Andre in honor of her older brother.
Later life
Lucile Randon devoted her professional life to teaching and serving as a governess for various families, including the Peugeot family, renowned for establishing the French car manufacturer. Additionally, she played a crucial role in caring for children during World War II. Following the war, she dedicated 28 years to assisting orphans and the elderly at a hospital in Vichy, situated in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. Subsequently, she spent three decades working in a nursing home in Savoie, also located in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes.
In 1995, at the age of 91, Randon underwent surgery on her carotid artery after suffering a heart attack.
Transitioning to Toulon, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region, in 2009, she moved to a retirement home from Savoie, citing her familial roots in the region and expressing her connection to Toulonnais by blood.
Upon reaching her 115th birthday in 2019, Randon, recognized as an honorary citizen of Toulon, reflected on the secret to her longevity. She mentioned not having a specific secret but believed that her extended life was intended by God, fulfilling the years her late twin sister couldn’t experience. This perspective stemmed from her near-death experiences as a baby and later at the age of 91.
Despite being blind, partially deaf, and using a wheelchair, Lucile Randon continued to receive accolades, including honorary citizenship of Toulon and a letter from Pope Francis in 2019.
Covid-19 survival
On 16 January 2021, Randon contracted COVID-19 during an outbreak that affected 53 out of the 90 residents in her retirement home. Despite the prevalence of the disease, Randon, isolated in her room, experienced only fatigue and remained asymptomatic.
Shortly before her 117th birthday in February 2021, just three days after testing positive, Randon made a remarkable recovery, becoming the oldest confirmed survivor of COVID-19. Responding to a journalist’s inquiry about her fear, she confidently stated, “No, I wasn’t afraid because I wasn’t afraid to die.” Subsequently, she joyously celebrated her 117th birthday on 11 February.
Before Randon’s triumph over COVID-19 in February 2021, Maria Branyas Morera of Spain held the record as the oldest known 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.
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.
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.
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.
Following the death of Tekla Juniewicz of Poland on 19 August 2022, Randon became the last surviving validated person born before 1907.
Longevity Titles
- Oldest living person in Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur (19.10.2017 – 17.01.2023)
- Doyenne of France (19.10.2017 – 17.01.2023)
- Oldest ecclesiastical person in history (02.06.2019 – present)
- Oldest living person in Europe (18.06.2019 – 17.01.2023)
- WORLD’s OLDEST PERSON (22.04.2022 – 17.01.2023)
Validation
The age of Lucile Randon was meticulously examined and verified by the Guinness World Records, and Cyril Depoudent (GRG Correspondent for France). The initial application was received on January 29, 2016. The validation was conducted by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on October 16, 2016.
A plaque with Randon’s name on it, which was unveiled in Toulon in March 2023.
Lucile Randon (sister André)
Lucile Randon as a child.
Lucile Randon as a young woman in the 1920s.
Lucile Randon as a young woman.
Lucile Randon as a nun in the 1940s, shortly after World War II.
Lucile Randon in the 1970s.
Lucile Randon at age 108.
Lucile Randon shortly before her 112th birthday.
Lucile Randon (aged 113) on 9 February 2018, two days before her 114th birthday.
Lucile Randon (aged 114) on 6 February 2019, five days before her 115th birthday.
Randon (aged 116) being interviewed on 24 August 2020.
Lucile Randon (aged 116) a few days before her 117th birthday in February 2021, being interviewed about her COVID-19 survival.
Lucile Randon (aged 117) in July 2021.
Randon on her 118th birthday in February 2022, pictured with David Tavella, the manager of her retirement home.
Randon (aged 118) in April 2022, after becoming the world’s oldest living person.
Randon (aged 118) touching a snake for the first time in May 2022.
Photo courtesy of Guinness World Records, and the Gerontology Wiki.
