France Super-Centenarian Jeanne Calment

Jeanne Calment AKA Jeanne Louise Calment Birthplace: Arles, France Born: 2/21/1875 Died: 8/4/1997 Age: 122 years 164 days Cause of death: Natural causes Gender: Female Ethnicity: White Occupation: Elderly Nationality: France Executive summary: Oldest recorded person dies at 122. Husband: Fernand Calment (d. 1942) Daughter: Yvonne (d. 1934)

Jeanne Louise Calment (2/21/1875 – 8/4/1997) had the longest confirmed lifespan (122 years and 164 days) for any human being in history. Her lifespan has been thoroughly documented by scientific study; more records have been produced to verify her age than for any other case.

She was 14 when the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889, and had an extremely active life, taking up fencing at age 85, and was still riding a bicycle at age 100. Her brother lived to the age of 97, her father 94, and her mother lived to the age of 86.

She married her second cousin Fernand Calment in 1896, and survived him (who died 1942, four years before their 50th wedding anniversary), her daughter (Yvonne, who died 1934) and her grandson (who died 1963 in a road accident)!

In 1965, with no living heirs, Jeanne Calment signed a deal, common in France, to sell her condominium apartment "en viager" to lawyer Francois Raffray, then 47. Raffray agreed to pay a monthly sum until she passed away, an agreement sometimes called a "reverse mortgage". She was then 90, and the value of the apartment was equal to ten years of payments.

Unfortunately for Raffray, not only did she survive more than thirty years, but he died first, in December 1995 at the age of 77. His widow had to continue the payments.

In 1985, Jeanne Calment moved into a nursing home, after living on her own until age 110. However, she did not gain international fame until 1988, when the centenary of Van Gogh's visit to Arles provided an occasion to meet reporters. She said that in her younger years, she met Vincent van Gogh, later describing him as "dirty, badly dressed and disagreeable."

On 10/17/1995 Jeanne Calment reached 120 years 238 days to become the Guinness "oldest person ever," surpassing Shigechiyo Izumi of Japan (whose claim to 120 years 237 days is subject to some doubt).

At the age of 114, she appeared briefly in the film Vincent and Me as herself, making her the oldest actress ever. A French language documentary film about her life, entitled Beyond 120 Years with Jeanne Calment, was released in 1995.

Though blind, nearly deaf and in a wheelchair, Jeanne Calment remained spirited and mentally sharp until the end. That was clear to those who attended her 121st birthday in February 1996, when she released her CD, "Time's Mistress," which featured her reminiscing to a score of rap and other tunes.

Internationally, researchers are fascinated with Jeanne Calment for both her longevity and her vitality. "She never did anything special to stay in good health," said French researcher Jean-Marie Robine. They attribute her longevity to her immunity to stress. She once said "If you can't do anything about it, don't worry about it”.

Calment herself credited an occasional glass of Port vine and a diet rich in olive oil for her longevity. She also recommended laughter as a recipe for longevity and jokes that "God must have forgotten me." For skin care, she recommends olive oil and a dab of make-up. "All my life I've put olive oil on my skin and then just a puff of powder. I could never wear mascara, I cried too often when I laughed."

She used to ate two pounds of chocolate per week until her doctor persuaded her to give up sweets at the age of 119. She quit smoking only at 119, but her doctor said her abstinence was due to pride rather than health - she was too blind to light up herself, and hated asking someone to do it for her.

The last time she appeared on national television was on her 121st birthday. She was visibly frailer than she had been the year before, did not focus due to failing eyesight, and could not hear much of what was said to her. The newspapers later quoted one remark: "Everyone is gone and I am so fortunate to have the memories of my dear father. I think of him every day."

Her last birthday in February, 1997, was celebrated quietly in the maison de retraite. By this time she was confined to a wheelchair, had become blind, and was almost totally deaf. The only person she could understand was the director of the home who, elderly himself, had deferred his retirement so that he could care for Madame Calment.

She died on the 8/4/1997. The media descended on the little town of Arles. The funeral was very private, limited to the citizenry of Arles. As one Arlesien said, "The newspapers and the televisions, they bothered her during her last years. Now she is at peace. She is ours and we will say goodbye to her ourselves."