“Dare to do what you love regardless of your fears, nourish your soul with culture, and never stop being curious, taking an interest, and asking questions.”
Matilda von Dardel was born in 1922 in Stockholm. She grew up in a family where art and culture were omnipresent: her American-Danish mother was a translator, and her Swedish father was a well-known painter. An only child, she dreamed of sharing her joys and sorrows with siblings. Since her parents often travelled, she was frequently welcomed by their friends, who became a second family to her. At school too, she built a small but precious circle of friends, always valuing quality over quantity.
During her childhood, she spent her summer holidays in a culturally rich environment in the picturesque village of Kerteminde in Denmark, with her grandmother — an essential maternal figure — with whom she read and painted. These summers with her Danish family, especially her great-uncle, who was a famous painter, left a deep mark on her.
From an early age, she was educated in beauty and art by her artist father, who took her to museums and introduced her to major modern artists. She developed a keen sensitivity for form, particularly through drawing, sculpture, and ceramics.
Aware of the economic challenges of an artistic career — especially for women — and despite her passion for art, she chose not to pursue that path. Confronted with the social constraints imposed on women of her time, she opted for stability and security. She married a physicist whom she deeply loved. Yet, her love of art remained at the heart of her life. Together, they divided their time between Sweden and Switzerland.
In Stockholm, they had two daughters and lived there for five years before moving to Switzerland in 1954. He worked at CERN at the time of its creation, while she devoted herself to the fine arts. They shared a deep love of nature, enjoying family walks on the Salève and even completing the Tour du Mont-Blanc in a week.
Matti’s life — as she likes to be called — took an unexpected turn when she became the sole survivor of a private plane crash. She experienced a near-death event that profoundly changed her perception of life and death. Since that experience, she has viewed death as “a wonderful light that makes you not want to return to Earth.” As a centenarian, she has no fear of death.
She attributes her longevity to long mountain walks, physical activity, her ability to adapt to change, and her passion for culture. She finds it difficult to say whether living past 100 is truly a gift. Though often tired, she feels surrounded by happiness. At 103, she is content living in her beautiful apartment, where she finds comfort, friends, and well-deserved peace. Her greatest joy is being able to regularly welcome her daughters and grandchildren.