BIOGRAPHY

Mange was born on a farm in Würrich, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on 10 August 1906. She had seven siblings. Her father died in World War I.

At some point, she married and subsequently had two children: a daughter named Ingeborg in 1934, and a son named Helmut in 1936. Her husband died in World War II in 1943, and she was left to raise their two children on her own. Out of fear for the lives of herself and her children during the nightly bombing raids, they moved to Mange’s hometown. Under challenging conditions, she constructed a home for herself and her children with the support of her family in Kohlscheid near Aachen. The family moved to Sprockhövel in the late 1970s.

Mange routinely went on bike rides with friends until she reached the age of 85. At the age of 89, she broke her arm while cutting roses in the garden. At the age of 90, she decided her living room needed a change, so she redesigned it. In her 90s, she had pneumonia. After having to give up gardening as a centenarian due to great discouragement, reading became one of her favorite leisure activities: sophisticated literature such as biographies or historical books. She also remained a sports enthusiast and enjoyed watching athletics and winter sports on television.

At the age of 108, she was living with her daughter and son-in-law in Sprockhövel. At the age of 111, she moved into a nursing home, where she kept up with world events via television. She commented that there is no special secret to longevity, stating, “Don’t go too far, don’t do any mischief, that’s what I would recommend.” As of her 112th birthday, she was still able to walk with the assistance of a walker. At the age of 113, she had five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Mange passed away in the nursing home in the district of Volmarstein in Wetter (Ruhr), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, on the evening of 28 October 2019, at the age of 113 years, 79 days.

RECOGNITION

On 23 June 2018, following the passing of 112-year-old Therese Fenners, she became the oldest living woman in Germany.

On 8 August 2019, at the age of 112 years, 363 days, she surpassed the final age of Maria Laqua (1889–2002), becoming the oldest woman to have ever lived in Germany (and potentially the oldest person ever overall, as Gustav Gerneth‘s age claim has not been validated).

On 10 August 2019, she celebrated her 113th birthday, becoming the first woman, and possibly the first person overall, to reach this age in Germany.

On 10 August 2019, she celebrated her 113th birthday, becoming the first woman, and possibly the first person overall, to reach this age in Germany.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Die Jahrhundert-Frau” – NRZ, 26 December 2014

* “Die älteste Sprockhövelerin wurde zu Kaisers Zeiten geboren” – Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung (waz), 23 December 2017

* “Mathilde Mange aus Wetter feiert 113. Geburtstag” – WP.de, 11 August 2019

* “Älteste Frau Deutschlands mit 113 Jahren gestorben” – Berliner Morgenpost, 30 October 2019

GALLERY