Supercentenarian Profile

Olivette Labonne

Born:

1916-01-07

Saint Pierre, Moka District

Mauritius

Died:

2026-01-31

Vacoas-Phoenix, Plaines Wilhems District

Mauritius

Marie Olivette Labonne was a Mauritian supercentenarian who was the oldest known living person in Mauritius at the time of her passing.

BIOGRAPHY

Olivette Labonne claims to have been born in Saint Pierre, Moka District, Mauritius, on 7 January 1916. She was the youngest of four children. Her mother died when she was only seven years old. Her father, Évariste, was an influential and respected member of the community. One of her sisters entered religious life, taking the name Sister Marie Francis. Her brother, Pierre Labonne, became a celebrated cycling champion during the 1930s and 1940s.

Olivette learned the trade of seamstress, a profession she would practice throughout her life. She chose as her life partner Hermann Leste, a man 20 years her senior. A divorced woodturner with a deep love of literature, he also displayed a remarkable talent for writing. Reportedly, social opposition to their union led the couple to be treated as outcasts. Together, they had two sons and two daughters.

The couple settled in Port Louis, where they devoted themselves to raising their children. French was the only language spoken at home. Their eldest daughter became a nurse in Scotland and later in the United States. Their younger son, who trained first as a language teacher and later as a drama teacher, was hired in London, where he lived for 35 years. Their third daughter, a bilingual secretary, lived in France, Canada, and Côte d’Ivoire. Their youngest child spent his career at sea as a chief steward aboard Dutch cargo ships.

After her husband’s death, Olivette spent nearly 20 years living in Abidjan, London, Montreal, La Teste in France, and Detroit, Michigan.

Olivette Labonne passed away in Vacoas-Phoenix, Plaines Wilhems District, on 31 January 2026, at the age of 110 years, 24 days.