FIVE THINGS ABOUT THE OLDEST WOMAN IN EUROPE

1 FIRST AND SECOND OLDEST

Sister André holds title as the oldest living European and second-oldest person in the world, according to Gerontology Research Group's “World Supercentenarian Rankings List.” Sister André was born Lucile Randon on Feb. 11, 1904, in Alès,in southern France.

2 HER LIFE

She grew up in a nonreligious Protestant family and worked at a young age as a governess in Marseille and a tutor in Paris, according to Le Parisien. She converted to Catholicism at 19, and at 25, she began working at a hospital. For 28 years she took care of elderly people and orphaned children. In 1944, she became a nun at the age of 40. In 2009, she moved to a retirement home. When Sister André turned 115, Pope Francis sent her a personal letter and a blessed rosary, according to FAMVIN, a religious news service.

3 SHE JUST SURVIVED COVID

In the weeks leading up to her 117th birthday, Sister André spent her days isolated in her room at the Sainte Catherine Labouré retirement home in Toulon. The nun was one of dozens at the home who tested positive for coronavirus. But on Tuesday, Sister André was declared recovered from the virus, a spokesman from her retirement home told Reuters. “We consider her to be cured.

She is very calm and she is looking forward to celebrating her 117th birthday on Thursday,” spokesman David Tavella told Reuters.

4 SHE WASN'T AFRAID

After her diagnosis with COVID-19 in mid-January, Sister André was asymptomatic. Blind and in a wheelchair, the retired nun who lived through the 1918 flu pandemic and both world wars told France's BFM TV that she wasn't scared when she tested positive because she is not afraid to die. “She showed no fear of the illness, in fact she was more worried about the other residents.” Tavella told Var-Matin newspaper.

5 TIME IN ISOLATION

While in isolation, Sister André spent most of her time praying, she told Le Parisien, and longing for the days when she could have meals with friends and go on walks in the garden. Tavella told the newspaper that the nun is very sociable and enjoys listening to music. As for her 117th birthday on Thursday, Tavella told Reuters that Sister André is “very calm” and “looking forward to celebrating.” “She's been very lucky,” Tavella said.