- Oldest known German individual reportedly passed away at 114 years of age
The eldermost lady in Germany has expired at the ripe age of 114 in Baden-Württemberg. Her grandson broke the news to the German Press Agency. He shared that his granny, Charlotte Kretschmann, peacefully departed on Tuesday evening in her nursing home in Kirchheim unter Teck, southeast of Stuttgart, as he stated. Kretschmann was brought into existence on December 3, 1909, in Breslau - an impressive 17 years prior to Queen Elizabeth II's birth and 5 years preceding the onset of World War I. Previously, both "Stuttgarter Nachrichten" and "Stuttgarter Zeitung" had reported about her demise.
She didn't seem overly phased about her exceptional longevity: "I didn't choose this. I can't control it," she said last year. "Every person has the potential to live till the next day, they don't need to do anything special for it." And she held no fatalistic views on mortality either: "It doesn't serve any purpose, it will arrive eventually, and I can't do much to deter it," Kretschmann informed the German Press Agency.
She gained fame as a social media sensation, living independently until a few years ago and not being related to Baden-Württemberg's Minister President, Winfried Kretschmann. On the platform Instagram, she shared glimpses of her daily life with 14,000 followers, showcasing activities like shopping, Christmas celebrations, or outings. Her final post displays her sipping on a glass of red wine. "What more could a person ask for, a fine glass of wine, scrumptious food, and loved ones surrounding you," her grandson captioned it.
Kretschmann's nursing home, where she peacefully passed away, was a charming building lined with teak, making it her church home away from the familiar walls of the house she once called home. Despite her frailty, she often attended local services at the Church under the teak, where she found comfort and solace in the company of her fellow parishioners.
