Elsa Peck

Elsa Peck (20 April 1902 – 28 January 2014) was a German supercentenarian who had been the oldest living inhabitant of Hanover ever to be born and die there.

Elsa Peck, née Schapheer, was born in Vahrenwald and the first child to have been baptized in St. Lucas church of Vahrenwald after its sanctification in 1901. After graduation she was trained as a dressmaker what accorded to her attitude wearing always voguish clothes. She stayed with her family in Erfurt between 1929 and 1935 and gave birth to a son and two daughters. Peck was also married three times. In 1980 she was widowed for the last time and moved into a nursing home in 1991 because she was not able to bring her purchases into her flat on the third floor any longer. Being asked what to reporters should write about her in consequence of turning of 110 she described her all-day life by having both feet on the ground. Peck traced her longevity to having looked always for kind people during her life time for having lively and friendly contact. In consequence her favorite slogan was “Ein Tag der ohne Lachen war, bringt leicht die Schönheit in Gefahr. Er legt dir Falten ins Gesicht, drum lache viel, vergiss das nicht.“ [A day without smiling endangers someones beauty by causing face folds – a reason you have to laugh as much as possible for prevention]. Peck might have been the oldest person ever to have been officially recognized for voting. She participated on the Bundestag election at age 111 years and 5 months in September 2013. Peck was quiet open-minded and enjoyed the medias interest. She died peacefully at age 111 years and 283 days and preceaded in death by Gertrud Henze as oldest living person of Lower Saxony.