Marija Žekš, Slovenia’s Oldest Person, Turns 109

Marija Žekš, a resident of Ljutomer, Slovenia, and the nation’s oldest living resident, celebrated her 109th birthday on 12 August, according to Svet24.si.

Žekš was born as Marija Kovačič on 12 August 1916, in Drevenik, Slovenia (then part of Austria-Hungary). She grew up with a foster mother in Maribor. At the age of 14, she began working at the MTT textile factory in Maribor and later held various other jobs. She married Alojz Žekš from Prekmurje, and in 1939 they moved together to Pečarovci, where Marija worked as a cook at the Pečarovci Elementary School.

During her life, she was blessed with a daughter, Olga, and a son, Mirko. She retired in 1968. In 1999, she was widowed. She remained living independently until 2011, when she moved into a nursing home.

Happy 109th Birthday!