Petzold was born in Germany on 14 January 1911.
In March 2009, at the age of 98, she moved into a senior citizens’ residence in Jena, where she enjoyed participating in organized events and excursions. As a centenarian, she reportedly enjoyed good food, good company, and watching pop shows on TV.
Petzold passed away in Jena, Thuringia, on 20 September 2022, at the age of 111 years, 249 days.
On 9 July 2022, at the age of 111 years, 176 days, she surpassed the final age of Ilse Beck, becoming the longevity recordholder of the state of Thuringia.
Her age was verified by Georg Fürholzer, and validated by LongeviQuest on 2 August 2024.