Annelies Baumgartner (AHN-uh-lees BOWM-gart-ner)
Housekeeper and Cook of Villa Diodati
Annelies Margaretha Baumgartner (a.k.a. Frau Annelies)
Born in the lakeside town of La Tour-de-Peilz, Annelies was the daughter of a steward and a baker’s apprentice. Raised among ledgers, spices, and the rhythms of seasonal households, she grew into a commanding presence known for her meticulous standards and deep understanding of domestic management. By her twenties, she had already held posts in two prominent Geneva households before accepting a long-term role at the aging Villa Diodati.
Over time, she became not just its caretaker, but its quiet guardian. Annelies managed all aspects of the villa’s operation, from sourcing provisions through trusted regional vendors to ensuring the hearth never went cold. Fluent in French and German, she navigated the needs of foreign tenants without flattery or fuss. Her manner was efficient, unflinching, and unshakably calm—even during the frequent summer storms that rattled the villa’s ancient shutters.
Relationships
Current Location
Species
Realm
Date of Birth
October 18, 1774
Date of Death
Last recorded in Geneva parish census, 1839
Life
1774 CE
1839 CE
65 years old
Circumstances of Death
No formal death record survives. Local records suggest she may have retired inland. Later writers claim she vanished one winter, leaving the hearth fire still burning.
Birthplace
La Tour-de-Peilz, Vaud, Switzerland
Place of Death
Presumed near Lake Geneva
Spouses
Jakob Baumgartner
(Husband)
Siblings
Children
Sex
Female
Sexuality
Heterosexual
