The oldest person in the world has died in her sleep, aged 118. Lucille Randon, who adopted the name Sister Andre when she took Holy Orders in 1944, became the oldest person in the world in April last year - shortly after surviving Covid.
Sister Andre was born on February 11, 1904. She died at the Sainte-Catherine-Labouré nursing home where she lived in Toulon, France. Spokesperson David Tavella told AFP: “There is great sadness but … it was her desire to join her beloved brother. For her, it’s a liberation."
Sister Andre converted to Roman Catholicism as a young adult, working as a governess, teacher, and missionary before retiring at the age of 75. She lived in the nursing home from 2009.
Lucile was born in Alès, France, to Paul Randon and Alphonsine Delphine Yéta Soutoul. Her living siblings included three older brothers and a twin sister named Lydie who died a year after they were born. She became a governess to three children in Marseille when she was twelve years old in 1916. She took on more responsibility when she was hired as both a governess and teacher to a prominent family at Versailles in 1922. Her work as a governess and teacher at Versailles lasted until 1936.
Sister Andre grew up in a Protestant family and her grandfather was a pastor. She joined the Catholic order Daughters of Charity in 1944, taking the name Sister Andre in honour of her elder brother. After World War II ended, Sister Andre went on a mission to a hospital in Vichy, where she served orphans and elders.
Her mission lasted 18 years until she was sent to another hospital at La Baume-d'Hostun, Drôme for night duty in 1963. She retired from full-time work in 1979 but continued to care for the elderly until she was 100 years old herself.
Towards the end of her life, Sister Andre was blind and used a wheelchair. She tested positive for Covid just before her 117th birthday, making her the oldest known survivor of the pandemic.
After the death of Honorine Rondello on 19 October 2017, she became the oldest living person in France. When she turned 115 in 2019, Pope Francis sent her a personal letter and blessed rosary. In 2021, she said she was happy at her home, although wished to join her grandparents and brother André in heaven.
On her 118th birthday in February 2022, Sister Andre received a birthday note from French President Emmanuel Macron. On 19 April 2022, she became the world's oldest verified living person after the death of Kane Tanaka and said she felt this was a "sad honour" as she would "be better off in heaven"; however, she also expressed joy at being "pampered" by her family. She ate chocolate and drank a glass of wine every day.
Following her death, María Branyas Morera became the world's oldest validated living person. Sister Andr was the last living person born before 1907.
