BIOGRAPHY

Garnier was born in the commune of Ruaux, Vosges department, Grand Est, France, on 5 January 1911. She was the daughter of Marie Héléne Séguin (1872–1949), and an unknown father. Her older brother Léon lost his life in World War I. After earning her school certificate in 1924, she entered the workforce immediately, as her parents lacked the means to continue her education. She took a job as a domestic worker, remaining in the Vosges region. At 18, she also worked in Paris, where she encountered notable figures of the time, including Fernandel and Tino Rossi.

In 1934, in Sainte-Maxime (Var), she met her husband, René Garnier, and they married a year later in Paris. In 1938, the couple settled in Ménessaire to manage a farm. René, a native of Burgundy, had a deep connection to his land. This new venture required Jeanne to adapt, as the work was demanding. In 1952, she gave birth to her son, Christian, and the family relocated to Paris in 1953. She pursued two professional roles, one with the André group and another at the Paris police headquarters. During this time, she regularly returned to Ménessaire, even after René’s passing in 1993, continuing these visits until 2018.

Since 2008, she had been living with her son and daughter-in-law, only moving into a nursing home in September 2020. She had two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Garnier passed away in Ville-d’Avray, on 14 November 2021, at the age of 110 years, 313 days.

RECOGNITION

Garnier’s age was verified by Cyril Depoudent and validated by the ESO on 21 March 2021.

ATTRIBUTION

* Jeanne SEGUIN – geneanet

* “Jeanne Garnier, 110 ans, qui a vécu à Ménessaire, nous a quittés” – Le Bien Public, 17 November 2021

GALLERY