Maria Franziska von Trapp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maria Franziska von Trapp
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Petition for Naturalization, 1948
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| Born |
Maria Agatha Franziska Gobertina von Trapp
28 September 1914 Zell am See, Salzburg, Austria-Hungary
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| Died | 18 February 2014 (aged 99) |
| Occupation | Singer and Catholic missionary |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Georg von Trapp Agathe Whitehead |
Maria Agatha Franziska Gobertina von Trapp (born September 28, 1914 – died February 18, 2014) was a famous singer. She was the second-oldest daughter of Georg von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead von Trapp. Maria was part of the amazing Trapp Family Singers. Their real-life story inspired the very popular musical and movie The Sound of Music. In the movie, the character "Louisa" was based on Maria, and she was played by Heather Menzies. Maria lived to be 99 years old. She was the last of the siblings shown in the film to pass away.
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Maria's Early Life and Family
Maria was born on September 28, 1914, in Zell am See, a town in Salzburg, Austria. At that time, Austria was part of a larger country called Austria-Hungary.
She had six brothers and sisters:
- Rupert von Trapp (1911–1992)
- Agathe von Trapp (1913–2010)
- Werner von Trapp (1915–2007)
- Hedwig von Trapp (1917–1972)
- Johanna von Trapp (1919–1994)
- Martina von Trapp (1921–1951)
The Trapp Family Singers
Maria, her six siblings, her father, and her stepmother, Maria Augusta von Trapp, formed a singing group. They became known as the Trapp Family Singers. Their incredible journey inspired the 1959 Broadway musical and the 1965 movie The Sound of Music. This movie even won an Academy Award for Best Picture!
In the family choir, Maria sang second soprano. She often sang alongside her sister, Martina von Trapp.
Leaving Austria
The family had to leave Austria after Germany took control of the country. This event was called the Anschluss. The family was worried about what might happen to them. This was because they refused to sing at Adolf Hitler's birthday party. Also, Georg von Trapp, Maria's father, did not want to join the Nazi German navy, called the Kriegsmarine.
Life in America and Beyond
In 1938, the Trapp family moved to the United States. They settled in Vermont in 1942. They traveled all over the country, performing their beautiful music.
Maria's father, Baron von Trapp, passed away in 1947. In 1948, Maria Franziska became a U.S. citizen. She lived at her family's home in Stowe, Vermont.
The Trapp Family Singers continued to tour until their last concert on January 26, 1956. After that, Maria Franziska and her stepmother became missionaries. They traveled to Papua New Guinea to help others. While there, Maria Franziska adopted a son named Kikuli Mwanukuzi.
Visiting Home
From July 22 to July 27, 2008, Maria visited her childhood home in Salzburg, Austria. She also went to Zell am See, where she was born. Her half-brother Johannes and her sister-in-law Erika (Werner's widow) joined her on this trip. During their visit, they met with Ernst Florian Winter, who was married to Maria's sister Johanna.
Maria Franziska von Trapp was the last of the seven original von Trapp children to pass away. Her three half-siblings from her father's second marriage—Rosmarie von Trapp (1929–2022), Eleonore von Trapp (1931–2021), and Johannes von Trapp (born 1939)—were not featured in The Sound of Music.
Maria Franziska von Trapp died on February 18, 2014, in Stowe, Vermont. She was 99 years old.
