He was the butcher of Arthon-en-Retz for almost 30 years. Famous for his sawdust-smoked ham, andouille sausage and liver pâté, André Vilain worked from 1955 to 1983. At the time, the butchers of Pays de Retz were renowned for their tasty recipes: Each professional had his specialty,”
notes Jean-Pierre Vilain, André's son.
“He had hands of gold, but that skipped a generation,” remarks his son
And even when retirement time came, André continued to work and lend a hand to his son, Jean-Pierre who had taken over the food business: He came every day to do his little rounds, make his sausage or his pâté, train the apprentices, he had an eye on everything. He worked like this until he was 87
underlines his son Jean-Pierre. He always remained very active, he drove until he was 96 years old.
André Vilain is not talkative but never was: My father has always loved to observe and act, even today he loves family gatherings in his house. He doesn't talk much, but he enjoys it.
André Vilain maintained good health until recently: He loved cultivating his vegetable garden and tinkering in his workshop. He had hands of gold, but that skipped a generation
says Jean-Pierre Vilain, smiling. Today, it is his grandson Louka who has taken over. Mechanics, renovation, nothing can resist him.
“There are no secrets”
The secret of its longevity? André Vilain smiles when asked the question: There is no secret, I eat well, I sleep well, I have worked a lot, but I have always been in good health, it feels funny to be 100 years old
he remarks dreamily.
Born in Arthon into a family of farmers, André Vilain broke away from the family farm to work with the Arthon butcher, with Mme Boutin with whom he learned everything and at the Richardeau slaughterhouse. To the point of taking over the business which from Madame Boutin in 1956: In the 60s and 70s, there were still a lot of small farms that had a few animals, he would kill the pig on the farms and cut it up, people would then make their own charcuterie.
At 100 years old, André Vilain still lives in the house he built in the 1980s for his retirement. His son Jean-Pierre Vilain accompanies him on a daily basis as well as numerous home services: SSIAD nurses, a physiotherapist, carrying meals. All these professionals allow him to live well in his house today.
