Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper
Encyclopedia
Hendrikje "Henny" van Andel-Schipper (née
Schipper) (hɛndrikjə van andəl ʃxipər) (29 June 1890 – 30 August 2005) was the oldest person ever
in the history of the Netherlands (breaking the previous record of Catharina van Dam on 26 September 2003), and from 29 May 2004 was thought to be the oldest recognized person in the world until her death (although her case was later superseded by the one of María Capovilla
of Ecuador
). She became the oldest living person in the Netherlands
on 16 February 2001, at the age of 110 years 232 days. If not counting disputed cases, she remains one of the 20 oldest people ever.
. She was born prematurely and there were doubts that she would survive. However, thanks to the continuous care of her grandmother during her first four weeks, she recovered. At the age of five on her first day of school
, she was sick again and was removed from the school on advice of a local doctor
. Her father, who was head of the local school, taught her to read and write.
She had a love of theatre
from a young age, but after her mother objected she decided not to pursue a career in acting and became a needlework
teacher instead.
The supercentenarian
-to-be lived with her parents until she was 47 years old. At the age of 46, she met her future husband Dick van Andel, who worked in Amsterdam
. She left her parents' home at the age of 47 and married van Andel, a tax inspector, at the age of 49 in 1939, taking the hyphenated name of van Andel-Schipper.
During the Second World War
, she and her husband moved to Hoogeveen
, where she had to sell jewellery
to help pay for food during the German
occupation. Her husband died from cancer
in 1959.
Van Andel-Schipper underwent a mastectomy
in 1990 after being diagnosed with breast cancer
at the age of 100. She continued to live on her own before moving into a retirement home at the age of 105.
She became the oldest recognized woman in Europe
on the death of Maria Teresa Fumarola Ligorio in May 2003, and the oldest recognized person in Europe on the death of Joan Riudavets
in March 2004. The death of Charlotte Benkner
in early May 2004 left her second-oldest recognized in the world behind Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan
, whose death later that month left her apparently the world's oldest at 113 years 335 days. It was the first time since the 1980s that no one had been recognized as over 114. However, during the next year, "Aunt Hennie" outlived several prior "world's oldest" titleholders, including Mitoyo Kawate
, Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan, Eva Morris
, Marie Brémont
and Maud Farris-Luse.
For her 115th birthday in 2005, she received a visit from the daughter-in-law of the Queen of the Netherlands
and a delegation from the Ajax football club. The last time the Ajax team visited her she complained that the other residents of her nursing home were "hicks who don't understand football". She had been a fan of the football club Ajax Amsterdam
since she attended a match more than 80 years earlier.
She died peacefully in her sleep on 30 August 2005, 2 months after her 115th birthday, although she had been diagnosed with an unrelated (to her breast tumor) gastric cancer. Van Andel-Schipper remained mentally alert up until her death, but suffered from increasing frailty. Several days prior to her death she told the director of her nursing home, Johan Beijering, that "It's been nice, but the man upstairs says it's time to go".
According to Beijering she felt grateful for her long life, but being the oldest person in the world for over a year was long enough.
at the University of Groningen
revealed that she died of undetected gastric cancer, the tumor in her stomach being the size of a small fist (see http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=19&story_id=23311). It was malignant and would likely have killed a far younger person. Following her death, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden
became the newest "oldest known living person".
, a professor at the University of Groningen, said following a post-mortem analysis of Van Andel-Schipper's brain that there was little indication of the kinds of problems in the brain, some related to Alzheimer's disease
, that are normally found in individuals who survive to extreme ages. According to Holstege, hers was the first known brain of such an advanced age "that did not have these problems".
recognized the claim of then 116-year-old María Capovilla
of Ecuador
to be the world's oldest person, supplanting Hendrikje from the revised title. Hendrikje was thought to be the oldest from 29 May 2004 to 30 August 2005.
As of November 2008, Hendrikje is listed as one of the 20 longest lived people ever (not counting disputed cases).
was a serving of herring
every day and drinking orange juice
. She later jokingly added "breathing." On another occasion, she gave the following advice: "Don't smoke and don't drink too much alcohol
. Just a small advocaat
with cream
on Sundays and holidays. And you must remain active."
of Andel-Schipper has been analysed by the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam
, who are researching longevity
gene
s. The team also reported that post-mortem examination of her brain
showed no traces of damage due to Alzheimer's disease
, and no hardening of the arteries. Although the genome results have not yet been published, it is hoped that it will reveal some of the genes responsible for preventing life-threatening illnesses, which are normally caused by ageing
. She appears to have rare beneficial mutations in her genome, which might have some protective function, according to reports from the Dutch team.
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Schipper) (hɛndrikjə van andəl ʃxipər) (29 June 1890 – 30 August 2005) was the oldest person ever
Oldest people
This is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
in the history of the Netherlands (breaking the previous record of Catharina van Dam on 26 September 2003), and from 29 May 2004 was thought to be the oldest recognized person in the world until her death (although her case was later superseded by the one of María Capovilla
María Capovilla
María Esther Heredia de Capovilla was an Ecuadorian supercentenarian, and, at the time of her death at age 116 years 347 days, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person. She was the last remaining person born in the 1880s...
of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
). She became the oldest living person in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
on 16 February 2001, at the age of 110 years 232 days. If not counting disputed cases, she remains one of the 20 oldest people ever.
Biography
Van Andel-Schipper was born as Hendrikje Schipper in Smilde, a small village in DrentheDrenthe
Drenthe is a province of the Netherlands, located in the north-east of the country. The capital city is Assen. It is bordered by Overijssel to the south, Friesland to the west, Groningen to the north, and Germany to the east.-History:Drenthe, unlike many other parts of the Netherlands, has been a...
. She was born prematurely and there were doubts that she would survive. However, thanks to the continuous care of her grandmother during her first four weeks, she recovered. At the age of five on her first day of school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
, she was sick again and was removed from the school on advice of a local doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
. Her father, who was head of the local school, taught her to read and write.
She had a love of theatre
Theatre
Theatre is a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place. The performers may communicate this experience to the audience through combinations of gesture, speech, song, music or dance...
from a young age, but after her mother objected she decided not to pursue a career in acting and became a needlework
Needlework
Needlework is a broad term for the handicrafts of decorative sewing and textile arts. Anything that uses a needle for construction can be called needlework...
teacher instead.
The supercentenarian
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
-to-be lived with her parents until she was 47 years old. At the age of 46, she met her future husband Dick van Andel, who worked in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. She left her parents' home at the age of 47 and married van Andel, a tax inspector, at the age of 49 in 1939, taking the hyphenated name of van Andel-Schipper.
During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she and her husband moved to Hoogeveen
Hoogeveen
Hoogeveen is a municipality and a town in the northeastern Netherlands.- Population centres :Elim, Fluitenberg, Hoogeveen and Noordscheschut, which still have the canals which used to be throughout the town...
, where she had to sell jewellery
Jewellery
Jewellery or jewelry is a form of personal adornment, such as brooches, rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets.With some exceptions, such as medical alert bracelets or military dog tags, jewellery normally differs from other items of personal adornment in that it has no other purpose than to...
to help pay for food during the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
occupation. Her husband died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in 1959.
Van Andel-Schipper underwent a mastectomy
Mastectomy
Mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. Mastectomy is usually done to treat breast cancer; in some cases, women and some men believed to be at high risk of breast cancer have the operation prophylactically, that is, to prevent cancer...
in 1990 after being diagnosed with breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
at the age of 100. She continued to live on her own before moving into a retirement home at the age of 105.
She became the oldest recognized woman in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
on the death of Maria Teresa Fumarola Ligorio in May 2003, and the oldest recognized person in Europe on the death of Joan Riudavets
Joan Riudavets
Joan Riudavets Moll was a Spanish supercentenarian and at the time of his death, was believed to be the oldest verified person ever in the history of Spain. However, subsequent research by the International Database on Longevity has revealed that there were two anonymous women who were older than...
in March 2004. The death of Charlotte Benkner
Charlotte Benkner
Charlotte Benkner née Enterlein was an American supercentenarian and the oldest verified living person from November 2003 until sufficient documentation was found to validate the age of Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan of Puerto Rico in March 2004...
in early May 2004 left her second-oldest recognized in the world behind Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan
Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan
Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan de Soler was a Puerto Rican supercentenarian, and, according to documents compiled in March 2004, the oldest documented person in the world after the death of Japanese woman Mitoyo Kawate, although German American woman Charlotte Benkner, who was about 3½ months...
, whose death later that month left her apparently the world's oldest at 113 years 335 days. It was the first time since the 1980s that no one had been recognized as over 114. However, during the next year, "Aunt Hennie" outlived several prior "world's oldest" titleholders, including Mitoyo Kawate
Mitoyo Kawate
was a Japanese supercentenarian and, at the age of 114 years 182 days, briefly the oldest recognized living person after the death of either Kamato Hongo or Yukichi Chuganji, both also from Japan....
, Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan, Eva Morris
Eva Morris
Eva Morris née Sharpe was the oldest recognised person in the world, by the Guinness Book of Records, from December 1999 until November 2000...
, Marie Brémont
Marie Brémont
Marie Marthe Augustine Lemaitre Brémont was a French supercentenarian and the oldest recognized person in the world from November 2000 until her death. This means she was the oldest living person at the turn of the century, and the new millenium, and therefore the person with the earliest...
and Maud Farris-Luse.
For her 115th birthday in 2005, she received a visit from the daughter-in-law of the Queen of the Netherlands
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
and a delegation from the Ajax football club. The last time the Ajax team visited her she complained that the other residents of her nursing home were "hicks who don't understand football". She had been a fan of the football club Ajax Amsterdam
Ajax Amsterdam
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax , also referred to as AFC Ajax, Ajax Amsterdam or simply Ajax , is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands...
since she attended a match more than 80 years earlier.
She died peacefully in her sleep on 30 August 2005, 2 months after her 115th birthday, although she had been diagnosed with an unrelated (to her breast tumor) gastric cancer. Van Andel-Schipper remained mentally alert up until her death, but suffered from increasing frailty. Several days prior to her death she told the director of her nursing home, Johan Beijering, that "It's been nice, but the man upstairs says it's time to go".
According to Beijering she felt grateful for her long life, but being the oldest person in the world for over a year was long enough.
Cause of death
She had agreed to leave her body to science when she was 82. An autopsyAutopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
at the University of Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
revealed that she died of undetected gastric cancer, the tumor in her stomach being the size of a small fist (see http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=19&story_id=23311). It was malignant and would likely have killed a far younger person. Following her death, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden
Elizabeth Bolden
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Bolden was an American supercentenarian woman who, at the time of her death at age 116 years and 118 days, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the then world's oldest living person. She was the last remaining documented person born in 1890. Bolden was the seventh...
became the newest "oldest known living person".
Post-mortem brain analysis
In June 2008, Gert HolstegeGert Holstege
Gert Holstege is a neuroscientist at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.Holstege studied medicines at the Erasmus University Rotterdam from 1966 to 1971. He was neuroscientist at that University from 1971 to 1987, after which he worked for 4 years for NASA in Mountain View, California...
, a professor at the University of Groningen, said following a post-mortem analysis of Van Andel-Schipper's brain that there was little indication of the kinds of problems in the brain, some related to Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, that are normally found in individuals who survive to extreme ages. According to Holstege, hers was the first known brain of such an advanced age "that did not have these problems".
Status as "world's oldest person"
On 9 December 2005, Guinness World RecordsGuinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
recognized the claim of then 116-year-old María Capovilla
María Capovilla
María Esther Heredia de Capovilla was an Ecuadorian supercentenarian, and, at the time of her death at age 116 years 347 days, was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person. She was the last remaining person born in the 1880s...
of Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
to be the world's oldest person, supplanting Hendrikje from the revised title. Hendrikje was thought to be the oldest from 29 May 2004 to 30 August 2005.
As of November 2008, Hendrikje is listed as one of the 20 longest lived people ever (not counting disputed cases).
Wisdom
Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper had stated that the secret to her longevityLongevity
The word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
was a serving of herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
every day and drinking orange juice
Orange juice
Orange juice is a popular beverage made from oranges. It is made by extraction from the fresh fruit, by desiccation and subsequent reconstitution of dried juice, or by concentration of the juice and the subsequent addition of water to the concentrate...
. She later jokingly added "breathing." On another occasion, she gave the following advice: "Don't smoke and don't drink too much alcohol
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
. Just a small advocaat
Advocaat
Advocaat is a rich and creamy liqueur made from eggs, sugar and brandy. It has a smooth, custard-like flavor and is similar to eggnog. In English-speaking countries it generally contains 15% alcohol , but in Continental Europe the typical alcohol content differs from country to country and is...
with cream
Cream
Cream is a dairy product that is composed of the higher-butterfat layer skimmed from the top of milk before homogenization. In un-homogenized milk, over time, the lighter fat rises to the top. In the industrial production of cream this process is accelerated by using centrifuges called "separators"...
on Sundays and holidays. And you must remain active."
Genome
The complete genomeGenome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
of Andel-Schipper has been analysed by the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, who are researching longevity
Longevity
The word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
s. The team also reported that post-mortem examination of her brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
showed no traces of damage due to Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, and no hardening of the arteries. Although the genome results have not yet been published, it is hoped that it will reveal some of the genes responsible for preventing life-threatening illnesses, which are normally caused by ageing
Ageing
Ageing or aging is the accumulation of changes in a person over time. Ageing in humans refers to a multidimensional process of physical, psychological, and social change. Some dimensions of ageing grow and expand over time, while others decline...
. She appears to have rare beneficial mutations in her genome, which might have some protective function, according to reports from the Dutch team.
See also
- List of Dutch supercentenarians
- List of the verified oldest people
- National longevity recordholdersNational longevity recordholdersThis is a list of oldest people by nation. It includes the individual, for each given country, who are reported to have had the longest lifespan. Such records can only be determined to the extent that the given country's records are reliable. Comprehensive birth registration largely came into being...
- Oldest peopleOldest peopleThis is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...