BIOGRAPHY

Gabrielle Sous was born in the commune of Souprosse in the Landes department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, on 26 June 1909. She spent most of her life in the village of Carcarès, where she was the wife of a horse dealer and accustomed to cooking for large gatherings. Her husband passed away at the age of just 56 in 1965, following a collision with a train at an unguarded level crossing in Campet-et-Lamolère. She overcame tuberculosis, which she contracted in 1966.

Longevity seemed to run in her family. Her parents reportedly lived into their 90s without ever falling seriously ill, and her sister lived to the age of 104. Her youngest sibling, Suzanne, was still alive at 94 as of 2017.

She had been a resident of the Ehpad Gérard-Minvielle in Tartas since the age of 99. At 103, it was reported that she still read Sud Ouest every morning. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she attributed it to leading a regular life and enjoying a little wine with each meal. She overcame a significant health challenge in February 2016 when she survived a fractured femur. When admitted to the hospital, the surgeon doubted her chances of survival, yet she managed to make a remarkable recovery. On her 109th birthday in June 2017, she celebrated surrounded by her two daughters, Michèle and Charlotte. The mayor of Tartas, Jean-François Broquères, and the departmental councilor, Dominique Degos, also joined the festivities. Her favorite foods included: two fried eggs accompanied by herbal tea in the evening and a glass of red wine with lunch.

Gabrielle Sous passed away in Tartas, Landes, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, on 16 July 2019, at the age of 110 years, 20 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 29 February 2024. This validation is yet to be recognized by LongeviQuest.

ATTRIBUTION

* “La doyenne a eu 104 ans” – Sud Ouest, 17 August 2013

* “Tartas : Hermance Sous est entrée dans sa 109e année” – Sud Ouest, 4 July 2017

* “Les 109 ans d’Hermance par la photo” – Sud Ouest, 27 June 2018

* “Les 110 ans d’Hermance Sous” – Sud Ouest, 27 June 2019

* “Hermance Sous, la doyenne des Landais, vient de fêter ses 110 ans” – Sud Ouest, 28 June 2019

* “La doyenne des Landais s’est éteinte peu après avoir fêté ses 110 ans” – Sud Ouest, 18 July 2019

GALLERY