BIOGRAPHY

Löw was born on her parents’ farm in the village of Grimmschwinden, Bavaria, Germany, on 25 January 1902. She spent her entire life living there; in her later life, her daughter owned the property.

Löw was married and had at least one daughter. She assisted in local farming circles until her 90th birthday. She never took any medication. At the time of her 108th birthday, she had 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She celebrated the occasion with family and friends, along with two local dignitaries.

A few weeks prior to her 110th birthday, Löw suffered two bouts of pneumonia, fully recovering by the time she attained supercentenarian status. She was revered locally for her sense of humour, as well as her hospitality and sociable nature. She enjoyed keeping abreast of current events by reading the daily newspaper.

Löw died in the village she was born in on 14 March 2012 at the age of 110 years, 49 days.

RECOGNITION

At the time of her death, Löw was the oldest native of Bavaria, but its second-oldest resident after Hesse-born Maria Oßwald (1901 – 2012). She was also Germany’s fourth-oldest living person overall, after Elisabeth Schneider, Oßwald, and Gertrud Henze.

Löw’s age was verified by Georg Fürholzer and validated by LongeviQuest on 25 August 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

• Gesund und rege Hohenloher Tagblatt, 26 January 2010 (via the Wayback Machine)

• Die Älteste in Bayern Hohenloher Tagblatt, 25 January 2012 (via the Wayback Machine)

• 110-jährige Maria Löw ist sanft entschlafen Hohenloher Tagblatt, 17 March 2012 (via the Wayback Machine)

GALLERY