BIOGRAPHY

Ribbens-Verstallen was born in Breda, North Brabant, The Netherlands, on 2 February 1873 as the daughter of baker Jan Verstallen. She married A. J. Ribbens in 1913; he found work as a railwayman and the couple moved to Maastricht, Limburg.

Widowed in 1959, Ribbens-Verstallen had lived independently until then, upon which she lived in several retirement homes.

Ribbens-Verstallen died on 22 July 1983 at the age of 110 years, 170 days. Her niece, Catherina van der Linden (1912 – 2024) emigrated to Australia and became the oldest living person in the country, reaching the age of 111.

RECOGNITION

On 24 January 1981, following the death of 110-year-old Wilhelmina Cammel, Ribbens-Verstallen became the Netherlands’ oldest resident. Upon the death of the United Kingdom’s Alice Brewster on 9 October 1982, she became the oldest living person in Europe. She was succeeded, after her own death, by Frederika van Asselt-Benkemper (1874 – 1984) and Anna Williams (1873 – 1987) respectively.

In June 1983, Ribbens-Verstallen became the oldest Dutch person ever after surpassing the age of Gerarda Hurenkamp-Bosgoed (1870 – 1980). Her record was equalled by Gré Eijken (1875 – 1986), who reached the same final age; both were surpassed by Christina van Druten-Hoogakker in 1987.

Ribbens-Verstallen’s age was verified by Gert Jan Kuiper and Marco Wikkerink, and was validated by the ESO on 5 June 2020.

ATTRIBUTION

• Oudste inwoner Nederland viert 110e verjaardag Nederlands Dagblad, 4 February 1983
• Maastrichtse breekt leeftijdsrecord Limburgs Dagblad, 22 June 1983
• Nederlands oudste (110) overleden De Stem, 23 July 1983

GALLERY