Europe's oldest person celebrates 117th birthday

After beating a health scare just weeks earlier

(SOUNDBITE) (French) EUROPE'S OLDEST PERSON, 117-YEAR-OLD, SISTER ANDRE, SAYING:

"No, I wasn’t scared because I wasn’t scared to die."

Europe’s oldest person, Sister Andre celebrated her 117th birthday with a cake and a prayer

(SOUNDBITE) (French) EUROPE'S OLDEST PERSON, SISTER ANDRE, SAYING:

"It pleased me so, so, so much, I met all those that I loved and thank God for giving them to me, I thank God."

Sister Andre, born Lucile Randon in 1904

was a teenager when the Spanish flu struck in 1918

She has now lived through two global health crises