BIOGRAPHY

Marthe Hallak was born in Homs, Syria (then Ottoman Empire), on 20 July 1913. Orphaned at the age of 3 (or 5), she first lost her father, whom she had no memory of, followed by her mother, of whom she only retained a few faint, blurry images. She grew up in an orphanage in Lebanon, where she met her future husband, a French soldier. They got married when she was 27. After World War II, they lived in Germany for several years before eventually returning to France and settling in Orléans. She went on to raise their five children on her own.

As of her 104th birthday, she was still in great shape, living independently in her apartment in Orléans with no intention of moving to a retirement home. She celebrated her birthday with members of the Aydes retirement club, where she played tarot every Tuesday. At the age of 105, she received only a few hours of home help each week, but she remained mostly independent. At the age of 108, she had 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.

Marthe Hallak passed away in Limeil-Brévannes, Val-de-Marne, Île-de-France, on 15 November 2023, at the age of 110 years, 118 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age has not been validated.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Joyeux anniversaire Marthe !” – La République du Centre, 21 October 2013

* “Marthe Hallak, 104 ans, toujours bon pied bon œil” – La République du Centre, 28 July 2017

* “Marthe Hallak a célébré ses 105 ans” – La République du Centre, 24 September 2018

* “Les 108 bougies de Marthe Hallak” – Sucy Info, September/October 2021 (page 24)

GALLERY