BIOGRAPHY

Degenne was born in the commune of Leugny in the Vienne department in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France, on 27 July 1910. She grew up on the Mouchetières farm in La Guerche. At 16, she moved in with her brother and met her future husband, Georges Degenne, a blacksmith. They married when she was 20. She and her husband were able to celebrate their diamond (60th) wedding anniversary before his passing at the age of 91.

Throughout her life, she was dedicated to her community. She served as a canteen maker at home for children who lived far from school and was actively involved in the local parish. She also raised goats and produced renowned cheeses. Her strong character and dedication to others defined her life.

On her 100th birthday, her niece commented that every noon, she would only eat produce from her garden. Her afternoon snack consisted of yogurt and biscuits, and in the evening, she had a light dinner with soup and fruit.

In October 2014, at the age of 104, she moved into a nursing home in Preuilly-sur-Claise. Two of her nieces had entered the same nursing home before her. As of her 108th birthday, she was reported to be in excellent physical and psychological health. Her birthday was celebrated at the nursing home. The ceremony took place in the presence of her family, other residents, the management, local elected officials, and the mayor of Mairé (Vienne), her commune. At the time, her morning routine included waking up at 7 a.m., dressing herself, and having breakfast in her room, which usually included a bowl of milk, bread, cheese, and sometimes a piece of fruit. At the time, she had only half of her teeth. She was still walking with the assistance of a cane and was able to feed herself. She reportedly had a good appetite and strong legs. However, she had lost part of her sight not long before and was no longer able to read the newspaper or play cards and belote games. A significant regret she expressed was no longer being able to tend to her garden. At the time, she mentioned that she had never watched much television, had stopped watching it entirely, and did not listen to the radio because “it all confused her.” She attributed her longevity to maintaining a healthy lifestyle from childhood, avoiding unnecessary stress, and walking several kilometers every day, year-round, regardless of the season.

Degenne celebrated her 110th birthday in the gardens of the nursing home, surrounded by her nephews and nieces, the mayors of Mairé and Preuilly-sur-Claise, the director, and the health manager. She thanked the audience by raising her glass and symbolically blowing out the single candle on the cake.

Yvonne Degenne passed away in Preuilly-sur-Claise, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, on 15 November 2020, at the age of 110 years, 111 days.

Yvonne Degenne passed away in Preuilly-sur-Claise, Indre-et-Loire department, Centre-Val de Loire region, on 15 November 2020, at the age of 110 years, 111 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by the members of the Les Grands Centenaires Français, and validated by the European Supercentenarian Organisation (ESO) on 25 May 2024. However, this validation has not yet been recognized by LongeviQuest.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Yvonne Degenne, plus que centenaire” – La Nouvelle République, 24 August 2012

* “Touraine : Yvonne Degenne, vice-doyenne du haut de ses 108 ans” – La Nouvelle République, 30 July 2018

* “Leugny : à 108 ans, Yvonne raconte son secret de longévité” – La Nouvelle République, 3 August 2018

* “Yvonne Degenne, doyenne des Tourangeaux, a fêté ses 109 ans” – La Nouvelle République, 1 August 2019

* “Yvonne Degenne, doyenne des Tourangeaux, est décédée à 110 ans” – La Nouvelle République, 17 November 2020

GALLERY