At 100 years old, Louis Chauvineau still lives at home, near Fougères

Louis Chauvineau resident of Saint-Hilaire-des-Landes, near Fougères (Ille-et-Vilaine) has just climbed this hundredth step. He was born on December 21, 1924, in the village of Tenu in Saint-Sauveur-des-Landes.

At school until age 12

He is the 4th child of a family of twelve. “His parents Pierre and Adélaïde gave him good genes,” smiles his eldest son Louis Chauvineau.

He was 2 years old when his parents settled on the Basse Beauce farm in Saint-Hilaire-des-Landes. At the age of 10 years and 3 months, he was placed like Patou on a farm in Vendel.

He went to school, especially in winter, until he was 12. Louis Chauvineau says: “After school, I found myself on another farm in the village of Noé Helleu in Romagné. At 16, when my father died, my uncle became my guardian. I worked for three years at the Chevrigné farm in Saint-Hilaire-des-Landes.”

Louis Chauvineau returned to the family farmto replace his older brother, who left to do his military service.

Three great-great-grandchildren

Louis married Madeleine Simon on April 15, 1947. They settled in Haute Beauce, the in-laws’ farm.

In July 1967, the couple moved to the Rocher village on a farm, which they had just acquired. In 1980, it was retirement age, Louis and Madeleine joined Haut Feu in the family home, on their mother’s side. His wife died on April 15, 2003, after 56 years of living together.

Louis is in his house, next to his daughter. A history buff, the centenarian follows the news in the newspapers, on the radio or television.

He is happy to welcome children and grandchildren, not for too long and not all at the same time! Dad loves to talk about his life and his journey, especially when it’s him who decides. I help him with the maintenance of the entire house and the papers.

Four children were born from the union of Louis and Madeleine: Louis, Marie-Madeleine, Jean-Pierre, Alexandre. For family gatherings, we must add 11 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren (soon 23), three great-great-grandchildren.

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