Supercentenarian Profile

Jeanne Vandenplas

Born:

1916-06-27

Wijgmaal, Flemish Brabant

Belgium

Current Residence:

Herent, Flemish Brabant

Belgium

Jeannette (Jeanne) Vandenplas is a Belgian supercentenarian who is currently the oldest living person in Belgium.

BIOGRAPHY

Jeanne Vandenplas was born in Wijgmaal, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, on 27 June 1916. She was the youngest daughter in a family of fifteen children.

At a fairly young age, she met her future husband, Leon Moelants. He was the son of a liqueur merchant in Wijgmaal and an excellent student. He earned a doctorate in chemistry from the then French-speaking Université Catholique de Louvain.

They were married on 6 January 1940, and settled in Mortsel, where Leon began working at Gevaert (later Agfa-Gevaert). She devoted herself to managing their household. Much to their regret, they never had children of their own. Instead, they became devoted aunt and uncle to their many nephews and nieces. Their brothers’ and sisters’ children and grandchildren were always welcome to spend holidays with them and join them for weekends at the seaside.

From the mid-1960s onward, they travelled extensively throughout Europe and to destinations farther afield, including Thailand, Sri Lanka, and several countries in Africa. When Leon retired in the late 1970s, they decided to return to their roots and built a new home in Wijgmaal, where she was once again surrounded by her brothers and sisters.

After Leon passed away in 1993, she continued to live in their home for several years. Eventually, however, the house became too large for her to manage on her own. In the late 1990s, she moved to the Windesheim service flats in Herent, where she lived independently for more than twenty years. Last year, when living on her own became too difficult, she moved to a residential care centre.

She was always a very active and sporty person. For many years, she was a member of the local gymnastics club, and even at the age of 100, she could still bend down and touch the floor with her fingertips. By the time she reached 110, however, frequent falls meant that she spent most of her time in a wheelchair.