Marie Deffay, a resident of Soulgé-sur-Ouette, Pays de la Loire, France, passed away on 30 July, at the age of 111 years, 315 days.
Deffay was born in the former commune of Châtres-la-Forêt (now part of Évron) in the Mayenne department, Pays de la Loire, on 18 September 1913. She was the youngest of six children. Her father, Florentin Dubois, was a master wheelwright, while her mother, Eugénie, took care of the family.
Marie worked on farms from the age of 13 until she was 28. She initially worked the land at Cocherie Farm in Châtres with her aunt Goyot, and later continued her work at Grue Farm in Saint-Christophe du Luat. It was at this farm that she met Robert Deffay (1918–2008), who became her husband in 1941 when she was 28 years old. The couple had two sons, Yves and Jean-Pierre. The couple initially lived on the Deffay family farm in Brée before moving to Montsûrs a year later. Marie then worked at Salle cheese dairy (now known as Montsûrs cheese dairy) until her retirement in 1973. Her husband passed away on 1 May 2008.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Marie Deffay during this difficult time.
