Question: How does one cram enough candles onto a birthday cake for one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 oldest survivors of COVID-19? Answer: With 117 candles, you canB次元官网网址檛.

A French nun who is believed to be the worldB次元官网网址檚 second-oldest person celebrated her 117th birthday in style on Thursday, with multiple treats and well-wishes, cards and flowers to fete her exceptional longevity through two world wars and a recent coronavirus infection.

Sister Andr茅 also got a Mass in her honour and a feast with Champagne, red wine and port. Then came a nap followed by more festivities, including an afternoon snack of baked Alaska, her favourite dessert.

B次元官网网址淚t made me very, very, very, very happy,B次元官网网址� the birthday girl said. B次元官网网址淏ecause I met all those I love and I thank the heavens for giving them to me. I thank God for the trouble they went to.B次元官网网址�

Sister Andr茅B次元官网网址檚 big day got rolling with a morning video call with her great-nephews and great-great nephews, followed by a Mass in her honour led by the local Catholic bishop, said David Tavella, the communications manager for the care home in the southern French city of Toulon where the nun lives.

Her birthday feast included a starter of foie gras, followed by capon with fragrant mushrooms. B次元官网网址淎ll of it washed down with red wine, because she drinks red wine. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of her secrets of longevity,B次元官网网址� Tavella told The Associated Press. There was also port and Champagne B次元官网网址渂ecause 117 years have to be toasted,B次元官网网址� he said.

She skipped dessert because she was tired, but got it served to her later after a nap B次元官网网址� with three candles and the numerals 117 on top.

Packing on 117 candles would have been impossible.

B次元官网网址淲e stopped trying a long time ago,B次元官网网址� Tavella said. B次元官网网址淓ven if we made big cakes, IB次元官网网址檓 not sure that she would have enough breath to blow them all out. You would need a fire extinguisher.B次元官网网址�

Sister Andr茅B次元官网网址檚 birth name is Lucile Randon. The Gerontology Research Group, which validates details of people thought to be 110 or older, lists her as the second-oldest known living person in the world, behind only an 118-year-old woman in Japan, Kane Tanaka.

Tavella told French media earlier this week that Sister Andr茅 tested positive for the coronavirus in mid-January but she had so few symptoms that she didnB次元官网网址檛 even realize she was infected. Her survival made headlines both in France and beyond.

B次元官网网址淲hen the whole world suddenly started talking about this story, I understood that Sister Andr茅 was a bit like an Olympic flame on a B次元官网网址榬ound the world tour that people want to grab hold of, because we all need a bit of hope at the moment,B次元官网网址� Tavella said.

When Tavella talked to her Thursday about celebrating her next birthday in 2022, she replied: B次元官网网址淚 wonB次元官网网址檛 be here next year,B次元官网网址� he quoted her as saying, adding: B次元官网网址淏ut she has been saying that for 10 years.B次元官网网址�

By strange coincidence, Tavella celebrated his 43rd birthday on Thursday.

B次元官网网址淲e often joke that she and I were born on the same day,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 never tell myself that she is 117 because she is so easy to talk to, regardless of age. It is only when she talks about World War I as though she lived through it that I realize, B次元官网网址榊es, she did live through it!B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

John Leicester And Jeffrey Schaeffer, The Associated Press

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