Maria (Mitzie) Von Trapp dies at 99

Maria (Mitzie)Von Trapp (the second eldest) was the last surviving member of the Austrian family of seven brothers and sisters and died in her sleep at her Vermont home. "It was a surprise that she was the one in the family to live the longest because ever since she was a child she suffered from a weak heart," family friend Marianne Dorfer told the Austrian Times.

"It was the fact that she suffered from this that her father decided to hire Maria von Trapp to teach her and her brothers and sisters," she continued. "That of course then led to one of the most remarkable musical partnerships of the last century."

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Maria Franziska, one of seven brothers and sisters from the famous family, passed away in her sleep aged 99 at home in Vermont, America. 

Her family fled their home in Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938, before performing together around the U.S.

Their story later inspired the 1965 musical hit, which won five Oscars and remains one of the most successful films ever made. 

Today, family friend Marianne Dorfer said she was 'surprised' that Maria had been the last of the family to survive.

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The Real Story

'We were all pretty shocked at how they portrayed our father, he was so completely different,' Maria said in one interview before she died.