French nun becomes world’s oldest person after Japanese woman dies, 119 – World News

Sister André, also known as Lucile Randon, was born in February 1904, making her age 118 following the death of Kane Tanaka last week, making her the oldest verified living person in the world

A 118-year-old French nun is now the world’s oldest verified living person following the death of Kane Tanaka.

Known as Sister André, also known as Lucile Randon, was born on February 11, 1904.

She has seen two world wars, 18 French presidents, the rise and fall of the Vichy regime and 24
British Prime Ministers.

Former record holder Ms. Tanaka died on April 19 at the age of 119 in western Japan.

Sister André made it to her 118th birthday, despite contracting Covid-19 during an outbreak at her care home in 2021 when she was forced to isolate.

Making fun of her old age, she joked: “I’m thinking about pulling out of this affair [of life]but “they” don’t want me to do it,” as if God forgot to call for her.

She told French broadcaster BFM she was not afraid of Covid and “not afraid of death”.

“I’m happy to be with you, but I’d love to be somewhere else to join my big brother, grandfather and grandmother,” she said.

David Tavella, a spokesman for the care home, said Sister André was very lucky and showed no fear of the disease.

“On the other hand, she was very concerned about the other residents,” he added.

Sister André, who is blind and uses a wheelchair, was already the oldest person in Europe.

Now she is the oldest validated living supercentenarian, a person over the age of 110, in the world.

This follows the death of Ms Tanaka, who reportedly had a fondness for fizzy drinks and chocolate and was still studying mathematics and playing the board game Othello.

She died of old age in a hospital in the city of Fukuoka after being confirmed as the oldest living person by Guinness World Records in 2019.

Mrs. Tanaka was born on January 2, 1903—the year of the Wright brothers’ first controlled flight in their powered airplane.

She was scheduled to take part in the Tokyo Olympics torch relay but was unable to due to the pandemic.

The record for the oldest person to ever live was held by a French woman, Jeanne Louise Calment, who was 122 years and 164 days when she died in 1997.

According to a press release from Guinness World Records: “The titles of oldest living person and oldest living person (female) are currently under investigation. More information will be provided once the next record holder is confirmed.”

But according to the Gerontology Research Group, which is led by a team of experienced researchers, Sister André is now the oldest living person.

Japan has a shrinking and rapidly aging population.

As of last September, the country had 86,510 centenarians, and nine out of ten were women.

France also has an aging population with 21 percent of the population in 2021 being aged 65 and over.

This increased from 13.2 percent in 1972 and is growing at an average annual rate of 0.97 percent.