New Oldest Living Person Is French Nun Sister André At 118

The new world’s oldest person alive has been confirmed by Guinness World Records to be Sister André, a nun in France who is 118 years and 73 days old. This news comes after the last record holder, Kane Tanaka, passed away at the age of 119 last Tuesday.

Sister André was born on February 11, 1904 with the name Lucile Randon. This makes her the third-oldest-ever French person to date, as well as the oldest living nun. She first worked as a governess and teacher, and also took care of children during World War II.

After the war, she spent almost 30 years working at a hospital where she primarily cared for orphans and the elderly, before becoming a nun and adopting the title Sister André in 1944.

Along with her amazing life of service, Sister André has an impressive medical accomplishment to her name. She contracted Covid-19 in January 2021 and reportedly recovered from the illness with minimal symptoms after only three weeks, making her the oldest known Covid-19 survivor.

Sister André addressed the new title in an interview with TV RMC Story by calling it a “sad honor.” The nun also said, “I feel I would be better off in heaven, but the good Lord doesn’t want me yet.”

She now spends her days in a retirement home but still gets up early and keeps her mind occupied. She told Guinness World Records, “They get me up at 7 a.m., they give me my breakfast, then they put me at my desk where I stay busy with little things.”

Sister André also has a soft spot for chocolate and enjoys a glass of wine every day. Interestingly, the oldest person ever recorded was also a French woman, Jeane Louise Calmet who lived to 122, and also had a love for chocolate and wine.