BIOGRAPHY

Matilda Bračun was born in Slovenia (then Austria-Hungary), on 24 September 1913. She completed elementary school in Ljubljana, where she also learned to knit. She began her career at Pletenina, a once-famous textile factory in Ljubljana’s Moste district, and later continued at the renowned Saturnus factory in Ljubljana, where she worked until her retirement. She was married and had one son, but she outlived them both. In retirement, she continued to knit and create tapestries, enjoyed cooking, and loved sharing coffee with friends.

Bračun moved to the Horjul Senior Center in the spring of 2017, just three months after she was still shopping, cooking daily, cleaning, and living independently in her apartment. When asked for her secret to a long life, she replied, “Moderation in food and drink, as well as in all things.”

During the coronavirus pandemic, she contracted COVID-19; however, as of January 8, 2021, she had successfully recovered, making her one of the oldest known survivors of the disease.

Matilda Bračun passed away in Horjul, Central Slovenia, on 11 March 2024, at the age of 110 years, 169 days.

RECOGNITION

In September 2023, she celebrated her 110th birthday, marking the first time in history that Slovenia had two living supercentenarians simultaneously.

At the time of her death, she was the second-oldest living person in Slovenia, behind Julijana Zakrajšek.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Vse najboljše za 105 let Tilka!” – MojaObčina, 24 October 2018

* “Poslovila se je 110 let stara Tilka, najstarejša Slovenka, ki je preživela covid” – Novice Svet24, 13 March 2024

GALLERY