BIOGRAPHY

Pollet was born in Gistel, West Flanders, on 21 December 1898 as the daughter of Michel Pollet. She worked as a seamstress and spoke fluently in both Dutch (Flemish) and French.

Pollet married Arthur Constant Debruyne and they had a daughter. She was widowed in 1989 after her husband died aged 84. She moved into a retirement home in Ganshoren, Brussels, in 1996.

As a supercentenarian, Pollet enjoyed a daily glass of beer at lunchtime and listening to music. She had a granddaughter and an unreported number of great-grandchildren. She died on 17 October 2009 at the age of 110 years, 300 days.

RECOGNITION

Following the death of 109-year-old Marcelle Droogmans on 14 January 2008, Pollet became Belgium’s oldest living person. Upon her own death, the title passed to Bernardina Van Dommelen, who went on to reach the age of 111.

Two days prior to her death, Pollet surpassed the age of Anne-Marie Adam to become the third-oldest person ever to reside in Belgium.

Pollet’s age was verified by Michel Poulain and Peter Vermaelen (GRG), as well as Anthony Croes-Lacroix (ESO), and was validated by each organisation on 20 January 2009 and 23 July 2020 respectively.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY