BIOGRAPHY

Magda Janssens was born in the district of Deurne, Antwerp, Belgium on 16 March 1912. She had at least three siblings.

On 24 October 1936, she got married, but her husband died six months later on 23 April 1937. She remarried on 1 October 1938. The couple had four children.

Her second husband died on 19 May 2001 at the age of 96. She lived in Wilrijk for a long time before moving to Onze-Lieve-Vrouw van Troost when she was 90. At the age of 90, she underwent a surgery to have a pacemaker implanted.

Her sister Laura (born May 1915) passed away at the age of 103. As of March 2022, she had two living children, aged 87 and 76 respectively, three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Janssens passed away in Zandhoven, Antwerp, Belgium, at 11 AM on 18 September 2023, at the age of 111 years, 186 days.

(Partially sourced from Gerontology Wiki)

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Anthony Croes-Lacroix, and validated by the ESO on 26 April 2022.

On 13 November 2022, following the death of Marcelle Lévaz, she became the oldest living person in Belgium.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Magda (110) gevierd als oudste Vlaming en derde oudste van Benelux: “Eindelijk weer feest”” – GVA, 16 March 2022

* “Magda uit Zandhoven, oudste inwoner van Benelux, viert 111de verjaardag met concert en haar favoriete kost” – Nieuwsblad, 16 March 2023

* “Magda Janssens, oudste inwoner van Benelux, op 111-jarige leeftijd zachtjes ingeslapen: “Verlies van een icoon”” – Het Nieuwsblad, 19 September 2023

GALLERY