Maria von Trapp, the Last of the Famous Singing Siblings Made Famous in ‘The Sound of Music,’ Dies at Age 99

How very, very sad … The end of a singing family era … Maria von Trapp dies at the age of 99. 

Maria von Trapp dies at her home in Vermont of natural causes at the age of 99. She was the last surviving member of the seven original Trapp Family Singers made famous in the 1965 movie, “The Sound of Music.” Maria von Trapp was the third child and second-oldest daughter of Austrian Naval Capt. Georg von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead von Trapp.  Maria von Trapp was portrayed as Louisa in the film and musical. Maria was a missionary in New Guinea for 30 years. Maria Franziska von Trapp died on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 in Stowe, VT.

Maria Franziska von Trapp - Wiki

Georg von Trapp, born in 1880, became a national hero as a captain in the Austrian navy during World War I. He commanded submarines with valor and received the title of “Ritter” (the equivalent of the British baronet or “Sir,” but commonly translated as “Baron”) as a reward for his heroic accomplishments. Georg married Agathe Whitehead, the granddaughter of Robert Whitehead, the inventor of the torpedo, in 1912. They had seven children together: Rupert, 1911–1992 (Friedrich);  Agathe, 1913–2010 (Liesl); Maria, 1914–2014 (Louisa) ; Werner, 1915–2007 (Kurt) ; Hedwig, 1917–1972 (Brigitta); Johanna, 1919–1994 (Marta); and Martina, 1921–1952 (Gretl).

The Trapp Family website.

Facebook – Trapp Family Lodge.

Half-brother Johannes von Trapp said in a statement.

“Maria had a wonderful life and we will miss her. The memories of her will live on.”

Born in 1914 in Zell Am See in the Austria Alps, Maria Franziska was the third of seven children of the aristocratic Georg von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead, who died in 1922.

As a child, Maria Franziska had scarlet fever, the same disease that killed her mother.

Maria Franziska von Trapp served as a lay missionary in Papua New Guinea, according to the Trapp Family Lodge website, before returning to Vermont to live. She is represented by Louisa, played by Heather Menzies-Urich, in the 1965 movie.

At the age of 97, she wrote fondly of her childhood memories and cleared up one myth from the movie. Capt. von Trapp did have a special whistle to call each of his children – but they didn’t see it as a strict measure for keeping discipline.

Pic – BBC: Maria von Trapp, third from left

CNN:

Maria von Trapp, the last of the singing children immortalized in the movie musical “The Sound of Music,” died at her Vermont home of natural causes, her half-brother told CNN on Saturday.

The native of Austria was 99 and lived in Stowe. She died Tuesday.

Maria von Trapp was the third-oldest child of Agathe Whitehead and Capt. Georg von Trapp. The couple had seven children: Rupert, Agathe, Maria, Werner, Hedwig, Johanna and Martina.

Georg von Trapp’s second wife, Maria Kutschera von Trapp, wrote a book titled “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers,” which sparked two German-made movies and “The Sound of Music.”

So Long, Farewell …

On a personal note, if you ever make it to Stowe, Vermont, I strongly recommend that you visit the Trapp Family Lodge.