Rachel Neyt

BIOGRAPHY

Rachel Neyt was born in Sijsele, West Flanders, Belgium, on 14 June 1909. She was the youngest of nine children born to Henricus Neyt, a servant who performed various maintenance tasks in large mansions, and Amelia Claeys. She attended school until the age of 14, after which she began working. Her first jobs were as a housekeeper and cleaning lady for several families, primarily in Sint-Kruis, a town she frequently cycled to.

At 23, she married Achiel Reybrouck, a gardener. Even after marriage, she continued to work. The couple had one son and spent their entire lives together in Sijsele. After becoming a widow at 70 in 1979, she lived alone until the age of 89, when she moved into a nursing home in Damme. Just before her 105th birthday, she relocated to a new nursing home in her native village.

Neyt attributed her long life to the hard work she had always embraced and the occasional glass of cava. Crocheting was her favorite pastime well into old age. When she could no longer crochet, she took up reading and watching television.

Even at the age of 108, she retained excellent hearing and could eat independently. In June 2019, her 110th birthday, she had three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. The occasion was marked by a visit from the city’s mayor, Joachim Coens, along with several family members who joined in the celebration.

Rachel Neyt passed away in Sijsele, West Flanders, Belgium, on 14 August 2019, at the age of 110 years, 61 days.