Gertrud Henze

Gertrud Henze
Gertrud Henze at age 109
Birth:	8 December 1901 Garz, Prussia (Pomerania)
Death:	22 April 2014 Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Age:	112 years, 135 days
Country:	GER
Validated

Gertrud Henze (8 December 1901 – 22 April 2014) was a verified German supercentenarian who had been the oldest living person in Germany from the death of Elisabeth Schneider on 9 February 2013 until her own death on 22 April 2014.

Biography

The former librarian was born in Rügen and never got married or gave birth to a child. She was still in good condition and lived in a retirement home in Göttingen since November 1993 where she was well-liked by many residents for her open and life-affirming attitude. Henze traced her longevity to reading a lot, having lively contact with other people, enjoying sometimes a cigarette and a glass of wine and never marry. On her 108th birthday it was reported she was smoking for 90 years and had quickly recovered after a femoral neck fracture some months before.

She celebrated her 112th birthday only with some friends and relatives because the public interest in consequence of her birthday the year before was too exhausting. She enjoyed reading, even with the help of a magnifying glass. Despite physical limitations, Henze was able to walk with the help of a walking frame to meet acquaintances and friends for having a chat.

Being the oldest inhabitant of Lower Saxony ever Henze died on 22 April 2014 at the age of 112 years and 135 days followed by 112-year old Frieda Szwillus. Henze bequeathed her body for genetic research to science.

References

• GERONTOLOGY RESEARCH GROUP
• Älteste Göttingerin feiert heute Geburtstag Göttinger Tageblatt. 7 December 2009
• Zweitälteste Deutsche wird heute 110 Göttinger Tageblatt. 7 December 2011
• Göttingerin ist älteste Deutsche: Gertrud Henze wird 112 Göttinger Tageblatt. 6 December 2013
• Gertrud Henze wurde 112 Jahre alt: Trauer um die älteste Deutsche Hessische Niedersächsische Allgemeine. 22 April 2014