BIOGRAPHY

Holzl was born in Norwich, Connecticut, USA, on 17 November 1905, to parents Stephen Voech and Elizabeth Schaffhauser. She had four siblings: Stephen Voech, Julia Sauersopf, Marian Richards and Sister Eligius.

On 24 June 1925, she married Michael Joseph Richard (1900–1963). The couple had two children: Rita Appell (1925–2007) and Lawrence M. Richard. Her husband passed away on 16 January 1963. On 26 November 1977, she remarried Walter B. Holzl. Their marriage lasted for less than five years before her second husband passed away on 7 September 1982.

Holzl worked at Norwich Cutlery as a quality control inspector and later joined the State of CT/Uncas, where she worked in the diet kitchen on the Thames. She co-founded the Montville Senior Citizens and was an active communicant of St. John’s Church. She served on the Rosary Altar Society at the church and was also a member of the Daughters of Isabella in New London.

Around 1990, she moved to Florida but returned to Eastern Connecticut after her daughter’s death in 2007 to be closer to her son. She celebrated her 105th birthday at St. Jude Common in Norwich. At that time, she remained an enthusiastic arts and crafts maker, a choir member, and a prodigious coupon clipper. She often sent many of the clippings to veterans.

Holzl passed away at the Orchard Grove Specialty Care Center in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA, on 1 July 2016, at the age of 110 years, 227 days. She was survived by one son, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

On 18 February 2016, following the passing of 111-year-old Antonia Amore, she became the oldest (known) living person in the U.S. state of Connecticut.

Her age was verified by Stefan Maglov and Jimmy Lindberg, and validated by LongeviQuest on 28 January 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Norwich 105-year-old: Friends, forgiving key” – Norwich Bulletin, 17 November 2010

* “5 generations of family convene to mark 107th birthday” – Norwich Bulletin, 12 November 2012

* Anna Elizabeth Voech Richard – Find A Grave

* Anna Holzl Obituary – Legacy (The Day), 9 July 2016

GALLERY

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