Background
She was born on 28 September 1914 in Zell am See, Salzburg, then part of Austria-Hungary.
She was born on 28 September 1914 in Zell am See, Salzburg, then part of Austria-Hungary.
She was portrayed as the character "Louisa". She died at age 99, and was the last surviving sibling portrayed in the film. Her siblings were 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), and Martina von Trapp (1921–1951).
The family fled Austria after the German annexation of Austria, fearing reprisals resulting from declining to sing at Hitler"s birthday party and Georg von Trapp"s refusal to accept a commission in Nazi Germany"s Kriegsmarine.
They emigrated to the United States in 1938, settled in Vermont in 1942, and performed throughout the country. Baron von Trapp died in 1947.
Maria Franziska became a naturalized United States. citizen in 1948 and lived at her family"s lodge in Stowe, Vermont. From 22 July 2008 to 27 July 2008, she visited her childhood home in Salzburg/Aigen and her birthplace in Zell am Secretary
Accompanying her were her half-brother Johannes and her sister-in-law Erika (Werner"s widow).
She was the last survivor of the seven original von Trapp children. Three half-siblings, from her father"s second marriage, Rosmarie von Trapp (born 1928 or 1929), Eleonore von Trapp (born 1931), and Johannes von Trapp (born 1939), are still alive, but were not featured in The Sound of Music. Maria Franziska von Trapp died on Tuesday, 18 February 2014 in Stowe, Vermont at the age of 99.
She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives inspired the musical and film The Sound of Music.