World's oldest person dies in Netherlands
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-31 13:53

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - A woman listed as the world's oldest person died Tuesday at age 115, according to the director of the home for the elderly where she lived.

 

Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper is seen in this 2004 file photo at de Westerkim, home for the elderly, in Hoogeveen, the Netherlands. Dutch woman van Andel-Schipper, the oldest person in the world, has died at age 115, the Netherlands national news service NOS reported on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2005. Her status as 'oldest person' was recognized by Guiness Book of World Records last year. [AP]

Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper died peacefully in her sleep, according to the home's director, Johan Beijering.

"She was very clear mentally right up to the end, but the physical ailments were increasing," Beijering said. "She said, 'It's been nice, but the man upstairs says it's time to go.'"

Known as "Henny," she lived in Hoogeveen since World War II, moving to the Westerkim elderly home when she was 106.

A fan of the soccer club Ajax, she was born in 1890 and celebrated her 115th birthday on June 29. Her status as "oldest person" was recognized by Guinness Book of World Records last year.

She advised others who wanted a long life to "keep breathing" and eat pickled herring, a favorite Dutch snack.

She had no children or immediate family and her husband, Dick van Andel, died of cancer in 1959. Beijering said her closest living relative was a nephew who lives in Spain.

"She wanted me to tell everybody that she enjoyed the attention, the friends, and the good care she had," Beijering said "She felt that being the oldest person in the world for more than a year was long enough."

Guinness spokesman Sam Knights said the oldest authenticated person now is Elizabeth Bolden, 115, of Memphis, Tenn., born Aug. 15, 1890. The oldest man is Emiliano Mercado del Toro, 114, of Puerto Rico.

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