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

Henryka Etynkowska was born on 16 January 1926 and had been connected with Włocławek since birth. Last week, the jubilarian was honored with the Marshal’s Medal Unitas Durat Palatinatus Cuiaviano-Pomeraniensis. She came from a large family – her parents, Andrzej and Helena Wieczorek, raised seven children: four daughters and three sons. She was the last surviving sibling.

Her childhood and education were interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. At the age of 15, she was deported to Germany for forced labor. She worked on a farm in the town of Meschendorf. There, during the war, she met her future husband, Henryk, with whom she shared the dramatic experiences of those difficult years.

In 1945, they both returned to Włocławek, and in 1946 they were married. Their marriage lasted 56 years, until her husband’s death. Together they raised three children: Anna, Ryszard, and Zdzisław. They lived to see five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Both were granted membership status in the Association of Poles Injured by the Third Reich.

For much of her difficult yet beautiful life, Mrs. Henryka devoted herself to raising her children and managing the household. In the 1960s and 1970s, she worked professionally at a nursery in Włocławek. Her husband had been employed at the Włocławek cellulose factory since 1946.

The most important trait of her character was her deep concern for peace in the world and for the safety and well-being of her loved ones. The time she spent in wartime captivity left a lasting mark on her memory – she often returned to those years in her stories, telling her family about the people and places connected with her forced labor and about pre-war Włocławek. Her stories will remain forever in the memory of her loved ones.

She spent the final years of her life under the care of her family, enjoying the presence of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by her family – there were conversations, memories, and shared laughter. After a short illness, she passed away on 14 February, having reached a beautiful age. She will forever remain in the memory of her loved ones as a person full of enthusiasm, devoted to her family, which was her greatest value,” recalls her son Zdzisław.

The self-government of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region has been honoring centenarians of the region since 2018. Families of individuals who will soon turn one hundred or have already reached this age are encouraged to contact the Marshal’s Office of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region by phone at +48 56 62 18 344 or by email at: stulatkowie@kujawsko-pomorskie.pl.

Beata Krzemińska
Spokesperson of the Marshal’s Office
18 February 2026