BIOGRAPHY

Aline Blaïn was born Aline Bongard in the commune of Tulette in the Drôme department in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, on 10 August 1911. She earned her teaching diploma in Montélimar and went on to teach in several small villages in the Drôme. At some point, she married Marcel Blaïn, with whom she had a daughter, Monique.

At the age of 90, she moved into the Beau Soleil Residence Home in Valréas. She continued gardening until the age of 90, but had to give up this passion when she began using a wheelchair, after relying on a walker for many years. By the time she turned 108, she was reported to be in excellent health, playing Scrabble with the residents and staff at the retirement home—without the need for glasses. Described as a woman full of humor and with an impeccable memory, she set herself the goal of living to 110 years old. On her 110th birthday, when asked what she thought of her age, she said: “It leaves me rather indifferent. I’d actually like to be a bit younger. But in terms of health, I’m not doing too badly.”

Aline Blaïn passed away in the commune of Valréas in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, on 27 December 2024, at the age of 113 years, 139 days.

RECOGNITION

At the time of her passing, she was the fourth-oldest living person in France, after Marie-Rose Tessier, Andrée Bertoletto, and Émilienne Bécarmin (from the overseas department of Guadeloupe).

Blaïn was also the oldest living person in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. She was succeeded by Marie-Louise André.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Les doyens du Vaucluse” – Le Dauphiné, 18 April 2017

* “Chiffre du jour : la doyenne de Vaucluse a 108 ans” – France Bleu, 17 September 2019

* “Vaucluse : à bientôt 110 ans, Aline Blaïn est la doyenne du département” – Le Dauphiné, 23 July 2021

* “À 110 ans passés, “je tiens le coup”: vies de supercentenaires” – La Croix, 10 February 2022

* “Aline Blain fête ses 111 ans à Beau Soleil” – Le Dauphiné, 2 September 2022

* “Aline Bongard Blaïn est partie il y a quelques jours .” – Les Grands Centenaires Français, 10 January 2025

GALLERY