Austria-Hungary Archives

LongeviQuest is saddened to report the passing of Bedřiška Adamičková. She was born in Belgrade, Austria-Hungary (now Serbia) on 6 October 1913 and passed away in Prague, Czech Republic on 1 September 2023 at 109 years, 336 days. At the time of her death, Bedřiška Adamičková was the oldest living person in the Czech Republic.

The last lady of Austria-Hungarian Judr. Frederika Adamicková.

Bedřiška Adamičková spoke Croatian at home, Italian with her grandmother, and German with her father, an Austrian officer. She moved from Belgrade to Prague, Czechoslovakia, with her mother. She quickly learned Czech in Prague, and then French and English at school. Bedřiška Adamičková graduated from the Faculty of Law in Prague. She never married or had children.

She became the oldest known living person born in Serbia, following the death of 113-year-old Veronika Zsilinszki of Hungary on 20 April 2021. Following the death of 109-year-old Zdenka Kasparova on 13 March 2023, she became the oldest known living person in the Czech Republic.

LongeviQuest is extending our deepest condolences to the bereaved family and friends of Mrs. Bedřiška Adamičková.

Marija Ruljancic, a Croatian-Australian supercentenarian, celebrated her 110th birthday on 13 June 2023 with her family in Hawthorne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She now has two birthday celebratory messages from monarchs: from King Charles III for her 110th and from the late Queen Elizabeth II on her 100th to 109th. Mrs. Ruljancic is currently the oldest known living Croatian-born person, the oldest living person in Victoria, and the third-oldest known living person in Australia after Catherina van der Linden and Dulcie Fawcett. Her age validation is under review.

Congratulatory messages from two monarchs (source: www.theage.com.au)

Mrs. Ruljancich was born in Vis, Austria-Hungary, (present-day Croatia) on 13 June 1913 from a family of winemakers. However, their family business was ruined by the effects of the 1918 Great Influenza pandemic.

At the age of 19, she married Ivan Ruljancich and have three children, eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. She currently lives with her son, Dr. Kevin Ruljancich, a Melbourne oral and maxillofacial surgeon. His son sacrificed his social life to carefully shield his mother from becoming infected with COVID-19.

She attributes her long life to a healthy lifestyle, which includes abstaining from alcohol and tobacco and eating in moderation.

LongeviQuest sends our warmest congratulations to Mrs. Marija Ruljancic and her family. We wish you good health and happiness.