INFORMATION PORTAL OF THE MARSHAL'S OFFICE OF THE KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIE Region IN TORUŃ

Five exceptional women – Kunegunda Gajewska, Eugenia Lucja Adamczyk, Alina Felska, Stanisława Strógalska and Maria Paczkowska – are everyday heroines who show with their lives that age does not have to limit passion, energy and joy. The distinguished jubilarians joined the ranks of those honored with the Marshal’s Unitas Durat Palatinatus Cuiaviano-Pomeraniensis medal.

Kunegunda Gajewska, who celebrated her 101st birthday this year, was born in Barcin ( Żnin county) on December 8, 1923. Despite an uneasy childhood and displacement during the war, she always exuded energy and passion for life. For more than three decades she worked as a kindergarten teacher. Today she lives with her granddaughter, plays the organ, bakes cakes and gracefully wears her elegant hats. The dignified jubilarian was met by Deputy Marshal Zbigniew Ostrowski.

On December 13, 1924, Eugenia Lucja Adamczyk was born in Ślesin near Nakło nad Notecią, a person of extraordinary strength of spirit, who in her youth experienced the hardships of life in labor camps during World War II. After the war, she returned to her native village and raised seven children together with her husband. Today, at one hundred years old, she is the heart of a huge family – numbering more than seventy – and continues to inspire with her calmness and warmth. She lives in Ocypel (Pomeranian Voivodeship) with her daughter Anna, who says that “Eugenia is infectious with peace and warmth – on Christmas Eve she even shared the Christmas wafer with the animals in the stable.” The anniversary ceremony was attended by regional councilor Tadeusz Pogoda.

Alina Felska was born on December 1, 1924 in the Vilnius region. She lived through the turbulent times of war and post-war reconstruction. She worked as a forced laborer on a German estate, only to start a new life in Unisław (Chełmno County) after returning to Poland. She enjoys nature during walks in Unislaw park, tends flowers in the garden and is famous for her excellent baked goods. She is an indispensable support to her family, and her love of books and crossword puzzles has remained constant for years. Ms. Alina was met by Marshal’s Office spokeswoman Beata Krzeminska.

Regional Councilor Anna Niewiadomska met with two residents of Bydgoszcz, Maria Paczkowska and Stanisława Strógalska. Maria Paczkowska, born in Bydgoszcz on August 16, 1924, worked in a brickyard and glassworks during the war. Today she is an indispensable chronicler of family stories, which she passes on to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is focused on the needs of her children and grandchildren. When they were little she would read them fairy tales, make up stories and act out favorite scenes with them for hours.  Always open to conversation, she enjoys participating in the lives of loved ones, infecting everyone with her cheerfulness.

Stanislava Strógalska has retained her love of literature and handicrafts. Born on November 11, 1924 in Biedrusk(Greater Poland province), she associated her professional life with the railroad, and her family life with Bydgoszcz. Her granddaughter recalls that she is a caring person who always supports her loved ones. She loves to travel, and every year she organized family vacations making sure her children explored new places. Today, despite her impaired eyesight, she still keeps a diary and passes on her life wisdom to her family.

At this special time, Inowrocław resident Mieczysława Urbanska, born on November 11, 1918, celebrated her 106th birthday. The senior citizen was visited with birthday wishes by the President of the Regional Parliament Elżbieta Piniewska. Ms. Mieczysława is interested in current events, eagerly speaking in conversations on political issues during social gatherings. She loves to reminisce about events during the war and her trip to the United States, where she settled for several years at the age of almost eighty.

The regional government has been honoring centenarians in the region since 2018, the Unitas Durat medal has been received by more than four hundred people to date. Families of the region’s residents who are about to turn one hundred years old, as well as those who are older, are encouraged to contact us at 56 62 18 344 and email: stulatkowie@kujawsko-pomorskie.pl.

Beata Krzeminska

Spokesperson for the Marshal’s Office

December 19, 2024.