Maria von Trapp — immortalized in the movie musical "The Sound of Music" — has died at the age of 99. (Via District Courts of the U.S. / National Archives)
She was the last surviving member of the original seven von Trapp singing siblings. Her half-bother told reporters she died of natural causes.
Her family famously escaped Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938. You can find their certificates of arrival in the U.S. National Archives.
Now, this Maria von Trapp shouldn't be confused with the elder Maria von Trapp, who was actually the siblings' stepmother. She died in 1987.
In the movie, the younger Maria was portrayed as Louisa. She once told Opera News that unlike the film portrayal of her family's escape, they left Austria by train and were very open about their plans to sing in America. (Via 20th Century Fox / "The Sound of Music")
As a child she suffered and survived scarlet fever. In fact a spokesperson close to the family called the fact she outlived her six siblings "ironic," and called Maria von Trapp a "wonderful person with a very kind heart."
