BIOGRAPHY

Matthiesen was born as Anne Cathrine Jensen in Haderslev, Syddanmark. Her birthplace in 1884 was known as Hadersleben, located in Prussia, German Empire. She was the eldest daughter of Peter Jensen, a baker in Haderslev, but spent most of her late childhood and adult life in Senderjylland. She would assist her father in the bakery from an early age, and after she lost her mother, would help look after her younger siblings.

Matthiesen, at the age of 25, married her husband, carpenter and joiner Christian Matthiesen, who was later called to fight for Germany in World War I as an artilleryman on the front lines. Upon his return, the Matthiesens ran a business in Haderslev.

In 1965, Matthiesen was widowed. From 1971 until shortly before her death, she lived at Dalum Koster in Odense, Syddanmark.

Matthiesen died in Vejle, Syddanmark, Denmark on 19 March 1996 at the age of 111 years, 114 days.

RECOGNITION

Following the 6 December 1991 death of 108-year-old Niels Nielsen, Matthiesen became the oldest living person in Denmark. She was never the oldest Danish native due to former oldest man ever Christian Mortensen outliving her. Upon her death, the title passed to Olga Kofoed, then aged 107.

In August 1994, Matthiesen surpassed the final age of Louise A. Bramsen to become the oldest person ever to reside in Denmark. She would hold this record for almost 23 years, with her age not being surpassed by a resident of Denmark until Ellen Brandenborg did so in May 2017. In November 1994, she became Denmark’s first ever resident supercentenarian.

Matthiesen’s age was previously validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG), her age having been verified by Bernard Jeune. On 25 May 2024, LongeviQuest validated her age after verification by Jimmy Lindberg.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY