BIOGRAPHY

Laure Lescouzères was born in Gajac, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France on October 19, 1912. She was born to sharecropper parents who cultivated tobacco, cereals, and grapes, while also raising chickens and other livestock. She married Pierre Lescouzères on May 11, 1935, in Gajac. During World War II, Pierre was mobilized and taken prisoner in Germany for five years, while Laure managed the tenant farm with her mother-in-law. He returned to France on April 18, 1945, and in 1946, they began farming in Cazats.

Despite living in the Bazadais region her entire life, with the exception of attending a cousin’s wedding in Bordeaux, Laure never learned to drive and received her first ID card at age 98 in 2010. Known for her vitality even in her later years, she continued to live independently at home until the age of 105, tending to her garden, cooking, and caring for her chickens. In July 2018, she gained recognition from the documentary “Un casau e quate polas,” which showcased her life and was filmed entirely in the gascon dialect.

In February 2020, she moved to the Caillavet nursing home in Bazas due to the challenges of aging. By the end of 2021, she faced health issues but recovered. On her 110th birthday in October 2022, there was a community celebration in her honor, and she was playfully challenged to surpass the age of Jeanne Calment, the world’s oldest recorded person.

Laure Lescouzères passed away in Gajac, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France around 20 August 2023 at the age of 110 years, 304 days. At the time of her death, she was the oldest known living person in the Gironde department.

RECOGNITION

Lescouzères’ age was verified by Cyril Depoudent and validated by the ESO on 13 November 2022.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY