BIOGRAPHY

Francine Grandjean was born in the village of Le Sentier in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, on 4 January 1915. Her grandmother passed away at the age of 98, and one of her cousins, with whom she shared a close bond, lived to the age of 103. She spent her childhood in the Jacot house, which her grandfather built and is now home to the Helvetica Horlogerie watchmaking store. She later left La Vallée to train as a seamstress in Nyon, where she met her future husband. Together, they lived for a time in Istanbul, Turkey, a city she grew to love. However, they had to return to Switzerland, settling in Nyon, just before the outbreak of the Second World War. She went on to have three children.

At the age of 101, in 2016, she chose to return to the Vallée de Joux to reside in the local retirement home. At the age of 106, when asked about the secret to her longevity, she replied that she had done nothing extraordinary in her life. However, she had been happy throughout her life—and still was. She was always surrounded by her family, and there was always joy in her home.

RECOGNITION

Her age has not been validated.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Francine Grandjean, une centenaire qui admire la nature” – La Côte, 6 January 2015

* “Joyeux anniversaire Mme Grandjean Francine” – Feuille d’Avis de la Vallée de Joux, 9 January 2020

* “106e anniversaire de Mme Grandjean” – Feuille d’Avis de la Vallée de Joux, 12 January 2021

* “À 110 ans, Francine Grandjean est devenue une supercentenaire” – 24 Heures, 4 January 2025

GALLERY