| Petronella Braams | |
 | |
| Birth: | 8 December 1841 Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands |
| Death: | 29 June 1948 Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands |
| Age: | 106 years, 204 days |
| Country: |  NED
|
| Centenarian | |
Petronella Elisabeth Herfst-Braams (8 December 1841 – 29 June 1948) was a Dutch centenarian who was the oldest known living person in the Netherlands and Europe at the time of her death.
Biography[]
Petronella Braams was born in Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands on 8 December 1841. Her parents were Pieter Braams and Sophia Reijse. She had three siblings.
She married Pieter Herfst in 1863. The couple had 16 children and lived in Honingerdijk, Kralingen. Pieter died in 1924, after nearly 60 years of marriage.
She worked a baker until age 90. At the age of 95, she moved to the home of her daughter in Libanonweg, Kralingen.
In 1946, on the occasion of her 105th birthday, the Polygoon news made a short report about her, which was shown in cinemas throughout the Netherlands and which she also saw herself in the Victoria theater in Rotterdam. For her birthday, the American Red Cross presented her with a large box of cigarettes.
On 3 March 1948 at the age of 106 years, 86 days, she surpassed the age of Sophia Wijnberg, becoming the oldest Dutch woman ever.
She became the oldest known living person in Europe, following the death of 107-year-old Elizabeth Sellwood of England on 19 March 1948.
Braams died in Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands on 29 June 1948 at the age of 106 years, 204 days. Following her death, then-105-year-old Matilda Coppins of England became the oldest known living person in Europe.
Legacy[]
In 2006, her great-grandson donated the "black jacket with silver brooch" and the hat, which she had worn on special occasions for over forty years, to the Rotterdam Museum.
References[]
- Petronelle Elisabeth Braams Geni
- Braams, Petronella Elisabeth (1841-1948) Resources Huygens ING
- OPOE HERFST 105 JAAR Open Beelden, 9 December 1946
- Openbeelden.nl: Opoe Herfst 106 jaar Open Beelden, 8 December 1947
- Zo oud als Opoe Herfst Trouw, 15 April 2006