BIOGRAPHY

Alicia Corveleyn was born in Ostend, West Flanders, Belgium, on 8 January 1905. Her parents were Franciscus Renatus Corveleyn (1880–1968) and Charlotta Romania Cloet (1881–1912). She had at least four siblings: Margaretha Charlotta (born 1901), Alicia Albertina (1903–1904), Franciscus Carolus Frans (1907–1980), and Robert Joannes (1910–1989).

During the First World War, she fled to the United Kingdom, where she learned a bit of English. At the age of 13, she returned to Ostend. She eventually apprenticed with her aunt and became a seamstress and milliner. She continued working in this independent profession until her retirement in 1965 in Brussels, after which she returned to the coast.

Alice married Fernand Maurice Van den Berghe (1908–1983) in 1936, at the age of 31. The couple had no children. Fernand passed away in 1983. She lived independently at home until her 102nd birthday. Later, as she became more dependent on care, she moved to the Spilliaert department of a residential care center.

Alicia Corveleyn passed away in Ostend, on 31 January 2017, at the age of 112 years, 23 days.

RECOGNITION

On 6 April 2015, following the passing of 110-year-old Anna de Guchtenaere, she became the oldest living person in Belgium. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Fernande De Raeve.

Corveleyn’s age was verified by Peter Vermaelen, and was validated by the ESO on 27 January 2020.

ATTRIBUTION

* Alicia Albertine Margareta CORVELEYN – geneanet

* “Oudste vrouw van provincie wordt 108” – Het Nieuwsblad, 9 January 2013

* “Alicia blaast 110 kaarsjes uit” – HLN.be, 10 January 2015

* “Oudste inwoner van België viert 111 jaar” – HLN.be, 8 January 2016

* “Oudste vrouw is niet meer” – HLN.be, 1 February 2017

GALLERY