The renowned fashion designer Coco Chanel, who transformed the haute couture world, is renowned for her classic designs, grace, and ground-breaking contributions to the business. However, her family is a lesser-known aspect of her life that hides beneath this mysterious character.
The second daughter of Albert and Jeanne Devolle, Coco Chanel was born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel on August 19, 1883, in Saumur, France, and passed away on January 10, 1971. The family went through financial struggles, and Chanel had several difficulties in her early years. Her early life and relationships were influenced by her five siblings:
Who are Coco Chanel Brothers and Sisters?
Pierre Chanel
There is no public information about Pierre Chanel. But Pierre was one of the siblings of Coco Chanel.
Julia Chanel
Coco’s older sister Julia Chanel was born on September 11, 1882. Although she was born at Aubenas out of wedlock, her birth was only recognized as legitimate on November 17, 1884, when her parents were married in Courpière, Puy-de-Dôme. Sadly, Julia’s mother passed away from TB in 1895 when she was just 13 years old.
Official records state that Julia Chanel also e passed away in 1910 from TB, but some individuals believe she committed herself.
Alphonse Chanel
One of Coco Chanel’s brothers was Alphonse. Regretfully, the only information available about him is that, although he was young, he was assigned to work on a farm when his mother passed away.
Antoinette Chanel
Antoinette Chanel, one of Coco’s younger siblings, was born in 1887. She, along with her sisters, experienced a challenging childhood as they were sent to an orphanage at a very young age, just 8 years old. Antoinette, along with Coco, eventually left the orphanage and attended a religious boarding school in Moulins, where they reunited with their young aunt, Gabrielle.
The two sisters, Coco and Antoinette, later embarked on a career as singers in the local area. Tragically, records initially indicated that Antoinette died from the Spanish flu. However, it was later revealed that she had passed away two years later due to a drug overdose, shedding light on the complexities of her life.
Lucien Chanel
Lucien Chanel, born in 1889, passed away at the age of 52 in 1941. Regrettably, there is limited information available about his life. Records indicate that he died of a heart attack. Throughout his life, Lucien dedicated himself to working as a farm laborer.
Augustine Chanel
Born in 1891, Augustine Chanel was the youngest sibling of Coco Chanel. Sadly, he passed away before turning one.