Maria von Trapp, whose family's story was told in The Sound of Music passed away in her sleep at her home in Vermont. Von Trapp's family fled their home in Austria to escape the Nazis in 1938 before performing together
STOWE, Vt. – Maria von Trapp, the last surviving member and second-eldest daughter of the musical family whose escape from Nazi-occupied Austria was the basis for "The Sound of Music," has died. She was 99. Von Trapp died at her home in Vermont on
"Maria had a wonderful life and while we will miss her, the memories of her will live on," her half-brother, Johannes von Trapp, tells PEOPLE in an exclusive statement. He also thanked fans worldwide for their kind thoughts. "It was a surprise that she
Maria Franziska von Trapp, the last surviving member of the family that inspired “The Sound of Music” has died at 99 years old at her home in Vermont.
Their story of fleeing Austria upon the Nazi annexation of the country was used as the plot "The Sound of Music" staged musical and movie, making the von Trapp family name more famous than one could possibly imagine. The film went on to win five