When she was born on December 7, 1911 in St. Peter am Wimberg, Emperor Franz Joseph was still ruling the Austro-Hungarian monarchy – and the First World War was still three years away. Today Stefanie Kürner, née Sunzenauer, celebrates her 110th birthday in the Caritas Karl Borromäus senior citizens’ home in Linz. She is the oldest Upper Austrian.
She grew up with six siblings; horse-drawn carts were still used in her parents’ farm. The father died in World War I when she was six years old. “We got the death certificate on the day my youngest brother was born,” she told OÖN on one of her earlier birthdays. Despite the early strokes of fate, she managed to keep a positive view of the world over the years. “I’ve always been a happy person. Maybe because of the children. I don’t have my own, but I still have a lot of contact with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of my deceased husband,” she told the OÖN four years ago.
Due to the protective measures, she cannot accept all the congratulations personally this year. Congratulations from Governor Thomas Stelzer in the form of flowers and a personal greeting card will also be sent by post this year.
Source: Nachrichten
