World’s oldest known person dies at 118

French nun Sister André, the Guinness Book of Records world’s oldest known person, died on Tuesday at 118 in the southern city of Toulon.

The city’s mayor, Hubert Falco, announced the news of her death on Twitter, writing that;

“It is with immense sadness and a lot of emotions that I learn of the death of our Dean of Humanity Sister André,” said Mayor Hubert Falco.

World’s oldest known person sister André is dead. The French nun worked under 10 different Popes. https://t.co/2Wg39gCmzS

— TUKO.co.ke | The Heartbeat of Kenya (@Tuko_co_ke) January 18, 2023

The nun’s spokesman, David Tavella, said she died on Tuesday at 2 a.m. local time and lived near Toulon. “There is great sadness, but she wanted it to happen; she hoped to join her beloved brother. For her, it is freedom,” Tavella said. Born as Lucile Randon on February 11, 1904, Sister André dedicated most of her life to religious service, according to a statement released by Guinness in April 2022.

Before becoming a Catholic nun, she looked after children during World War II and then spent 28 years caring for orphans and older people at a hospital. She was also the oldest nun ever to live, according to Guinness.

When she turned 118 in 2022, the nun received a handwritten birthday note from French President Emmanuel Macron – the 18th French president of her lifetime. There have also been ten different Popes presiding over the Catholic Church since she was born.

She became the world’s eldest following the death of Kane Tanaka, a Japanese woman previously certified as the world’s oldest person, who died at 119at 119at 119 on April 19. The title of the oldest person ever recorded also belongs to a French woman. Born on February 21, 1875, Jeanne Louise Calment’s life spanned 122 years and 164 days, according to the Guinness World Records statement.

CNN/S.O