She was born in France on Feb. 11, 1904, as Lucile Randon and took the name Sister André in 1944. She spent most of her life in religious service as a Roman Catholic nun.
Sister André became the oldest living person last year when the previous oldest person, Kane Tanaka of Japan, died at 119 years old in April 2022. According to the Gerontology Research Group, the oldest living person is now Maria Branyas Morera of Spain at 115 years and 320 days, as of Wednesday.
Sister André also holds the record for oldest COVID-19 survivor, which she tested positive for a few weeks before her 117th birthday in 2021. She recovered from the virus in about three weeks. She also lived through the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.
It is believed that Lucile Randon's longevity can be attributed to a combination of genetics, a healthy lifestyle, and access to quality healthcare throughout her life.
The new oldest person in the world has not yet been officially confirmed. However, the current oldest living person is Kane Tanaka from Japan, who is 118 years old.
There is no specific secret to Lucile Randon's long life, but she did credit her faith and daily consumption of olive oil as contributing factors.
It is extremely rare for someone to live to be 118 years old. According to the Gerontology Research Group, there have only been around 20 people in recorded history who have reached this age.
Lucile Randon's life serves as a reminder to prioritize our health and well-being, and to never underestimate the power of genetics. It also highlights the importance of access to quality healthcare and the impact it can have on our longevity.