Catharina van Dam-Groeneveld

Catharina Angenita ("Kaatje") van Dam-Groeneveld (Leiden, 20 November 1887 - 16 February 2001) was a Dutch supercentenarian, who was the first Dutch person to celebrate her 112th and 113th birthdays, thereby extending the Dutch longevity record from 111 to 113 years; later, her age would be surpassed by Hendrikje van Andel-Schipper.

Biography
Mrs. Van Dam-Groeneveld was born as Catharina Groeneveld in Leiden, a city in the coastal area of The Netherlands, on 20 November 1887 to parents Bartholomeus Groeneveld and Maria Elisabeth Molenaar. She grew up at the Koolgracht in Leiden in a poor family, but at the time of her 109th birthday remembered being happy with what the family had; on top of that, people would help each other out when in need.

In 1911, Mrs. Van Dam-Groeneveld married her husband Jacob van Dam, a gardener, with whom she would have ten children. Later, she would describe her marriage as the most beautiful moment in her life; she could vividly recollect being ridden to church in a coach and taking note of the rare and occasional T-Ford. Money for a honeymoon was not available. Mrs. Van Dam-Groeneveld's husband would die in 1958, described by her as one of the saddest moments in her life (as well as having outlived four of her ten children at the time of her 109th birthday).

In later life, Mrs. Van Dam-Groeneveld admitting to liking all of the media attention, but also expressing the wish not to live too long. She was taken care of by her son Cor, who admitted on her 113th birthday that mentally she was growing weaker. About three months later, Mrs. Van Dam-Groeneveld would die on 16 February 2001 at the age of 113 years and 88 days, the cause of her death reportedly being pneumonia. She was outlived by four surviving children, as well as eighteen grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and ten great-great-grandchildren.