Raymond Landy was 92 years old when his life changed unexpectedly. The farmer, who always lived discreetly in his small village in the Loiret, south of Paris, received a large inheritance after the death of the brother with whom he had shared his entire life. The money was allocated to a project that, according to local inhabitants, seemed impossible to complete decades ago.
According to Notícias ao Minuto, Raymond and his brother always lived together, without marrying or starting a family, maintaining a strong connection to the land where they were born.
The local church marked the most important moments in Raymond’s life and became, over the years, a symbol of belonging. The structure, however, was deeply degraded and the municipality did not have the resources to carry out the necessary rehabilitation.
A decision made without hesitation
The inheritance exceeded one million euros and Raymond didn’t take long to decide the fate of the money. He recalled that he was baptized there, took communion and spent much of his youth. The church, the symbolic center of the village, was the element that deserved to be preserved.
The condition of the building had been deteriorating for decades and successive appeals for external financing had not borne fruit.
Christian Chevalier, president of the local council, explained that the municipal budget never allowed works of that scale. The rehabilitation involved an investment that far exceeded the possibilities of a small village.
Despite this, the community maintained hope that the building could be recovered before suffering irreparable damage.
Works already on the ground thanks to the donation
Raymond came forward with a donation of 1.38 million euros. The contribution made it possible to begin the first phase of the project.
The architect responsible, Antonio Leriche, states that he will use the funds to carry out as many interventions as possible, respecting the original design and ensuring that the structure regains its lost solidity.
The works are expected to continue until next year and there is already a plaque at the site commemorating Raymond’s gesture. The community regards the elderly with an admiration that they never imagined they would feel for someone who had always lived in anonymity.
According to , Raymond’s decision finally unlocked the reconstruction of the church, transforming an unexpected inheritance into a lasting legacy for his land.
Also read:
