Through Two Disease Outbreaks and World War, Sister Andre, the Oldest Person in the World Dies at the Age of 118 Years

The oldest person in the world is Sister Andre. (Source: Guinness World Records)

JAKARTA - A French nun and the oldest person in the world, Sister Andre, breathed her last at a nursing home in France at the age of 118.

Quoting Reuters, January 18, whose real name is Lucile Randon, she got the name Sister Andre when she joined the Catholic charitable order in 1944.

Born on February 11, 1904, she is the oldest person in the world according to the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) World Ranking List of Supercentenarians.

While quoting Sky News, Sister Andre is said to have survived two global health crises, the Spanish flu in 1918 and the recent COVID-19.

While celebrating her 117th birthday in 2021, Sister Andre said death did not worry her, highlighting her state of health.

"No, I'm not afraid because I'm not afraid to die," she commented.

"I met all the people I love and thank God for giving them to me. I thank God," she continued.

Guinness World Records is saddened to learn of the passing of the world's oldest person, Sister André (b. Lucile Randon) at the age of 118.https://t.co/xbgvOrqK1u

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) January 18, 2023

When holding the title of world's oldest person after Kane Tanaka died aged 119 last April, Sister Andre appeared to have mixed feelings about being the oldest living person during an interview with French TV channel RMC Story.

"I feel I will be better off in heaven, but the good Lord doesn't want me yet," he said, calling the title a "sad honour."

Spending most of her life dedicated to religious service, Sister André also holds the record for the oldest living nun, according to Guinness World Records.

Sister André spent her youth working as a teacher, nanny and childcare during World War II.

After the war, she spent 28 years working with orphans and the elderly in a hospital in Vichy, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region before becoming a Catholic nun. She experienced the leadership of the Catholic Church under 10 Popes from birth.

In 2019, she was made an honorary citizen of the city where she lives, Toulon in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region.

Recently, Sister André received another shocking record for the oldest survivor of COVID-19. She tested positive for the coronavirus on January 16, 2021, and was immediately isolated in a nursing home to stop the virus from spreading.

And, she recovered from a viral infection after three weeks with no symptoms or side effects other than a bit of tiredness, in time to celebrate her 117th birthday.

Lucile is three years away from becoming the oldest person ever, a record held by France's Jeanne Louise Calment. Born on February 21, 1875, she died aged 122 years and 164 days.