Jeannette Robert will turn 72 on December 31, 2024. In Marseille, she lives with her granddaughter Melissa and Noé, a 5-year-old Jack Russell, in a 35m2 apartment adorned with religious pictures in the poor district of La Belle de Mai.
Repatriated from Indochina at the age of 10, she arrived in France and changed her name to Jeannette, a reference to her Vietnamese name Vo Thi-net, because it rhymes. At the repatriate camp, a family took her to church, where she was struck by the image of Christ on the cross, that of a man who gives his life out of love for others. "I fell in love with Jesus at first sight."
Growing up, Jeannette wanted to become a missionary nun and was very attracted to Africa. She spent two years with the sisters, thinking she had the vocation, but then met her husband and left. "I'm sorry I didn't become a nun. I had a hard time with him for 20 years, and life wasn't always easy."
In Marseille, she has been working for 24 years as a secretary in a children's home in the chic seaside neighborhoods. She has always been very committed to her religious practice, and her working hours have been specially adapted to enable her to attend mass at 8:30 every morning before work. "I've always gone to church before work. My husband even thought I had a lover." As she arrives at the office in the afternoon, she catches up by finishing later in the evening. "I'm paid 80%, but I work full-time. I don't mind; I don't claim my extra hours; it's not in my nature to count everything."
How does it feel to be 72?
Why did you retire or why are you still working?
Why did you retire?
Why are you still working?
I'm still working because I have financial goals. I'd like to move to a bigger apartment. I'm not really looking forward to stopping; I don't mind working. However, when I retire in two or three years' time, I'll have more time for church, cleaning, cooking, etc. I'll be able to spend more time with my granddaughter, Melissa. She already reproaches me for not spending enough time with her, saying I'm putting the good Lord first.
What do you look forward to?
What is your biggest concern?
Life expectancy 2023
