Three Women, Three Paths, One Generation
The stories of our centenarians – Helena, Karolina and Sabina – show how different the lives of women born in 1926 could be. One came to Kujawy from the Podkarpackie region after the war, another spent her entire life close to her family home, while the third – born in Wielkopolska – spent all of her adult life in Bydgoszcz. The centenarians received the Marshal of the Voivodeship’s Unitas Durat Palatinatus Cuiaviano-Pomeraniensis Medal.
– May the kindness you have shown to others return to you, strengthened by the care, warmth and attention of your loved ones. May every day bring you joy, love and support – Marshal Piotr Całbecki wrote in his congratulatory message.
Helena Marszałek was born on 20 August 1926 in the village of Cygany near Tarnobrzeg (Podkarpackie Voivodeship), into the family of Katarzyna and Wojciech Kozęba, who ran a farm. She had five sisters – Hanna, Zofia, Maria, Waleria and Emilia. Her childhood was not easy. Her father died when she was only 12 years old.
During the Second World War, she remained in her home village. Together with her sisters, she was sent to perform forced labour in a nearby locality. After the war, she resumed her education and completed primary school by attending evening classes.
In 1947, Helena and her husband Władysław Marszałek came to Solec Kujawski (Bydgoszcz County). It was there, in September 1947, that they married and began a new life together. Both found employment at the Kujawy Motor Vehicle Repair Works. Helena later also worked at the local tannery and at the footwear factory established following its transformation.
Helena and Władysław raised three children – a son, Jan, and two daughters, Elżbieta and Anna. Today, she enjoys the company of five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Outside work, Helena enjoyed sewing. She had her own sewing machine, which at the time was a real treasure. She also liked tending her garden, where she grew fruit and vegetables.
Her relatives describe her as cheerful, helpful and exceptionally hard-working. Throughout her life, she was always willing to help others.
Karolina Kowalska was born on 21 August 1926 in Kamienne Brody (Lipno County), where she spent her childhood in the family home built in 1904. The house still stands today and remains a living testimony to several generations of the family. Deputy Marshal of the Voivodeship Aneta Jędrzejewska presented the centenarian with the Marshal’s Unitas Durat Medal.
She grew up in the family of Franciszek and Maria Lewandowski. She had three siblings – Kazimierz, Jadwiga and Piotr. In 1939, she completed a three-grade primary school in Borowo.
The war changed her life. Karolina was sent to perform forced labour in Turza near Tłuchowo (Lipno County), where she worked for German farmers. After the war, she married Mieczysław Kowalski. The couple exchanged vows on 30 April 1950 in Kamienne Brody. Initially, they lived with Karolina’s parents. They later moved to Suradówek, where Mieczysław, a qualified master bricklayer, built a red-brick house.
Around 1955, the family moved into their new home. Several years later, the couple returned to Kamienne Brody.
The centenarian was actively involved in the life of the local community. She belonged to the local Rural Women’s Association in Suradówek, and after returning to Kamienne Brody she became chairwoman of the local association.
Together with her husband, she raised four children – Teresa, Wojciech, Barbara and Małgorzata. She now has twelve grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.
Karolina has always been cheerful, energetic and sociable. She loved nature and meeting her friends. In her younger years, she enjoyed playing cards and – as her granddaughter jokingly recalls – had “a real talent for cheating”.
Sabina Świetlik was born on 21 August 1926 in Jarocin, Wielkopolskie Voivodeship. Before the outbreak of the war, she moved with her family to Bydgoszcz, where she would spend her entire adult life.
Her childhood was marked by the war. Her father, Piotr Szymoniak, was executed by the Germans in 1939. Sabina was only 13 at the time. Her mother, Eufrozyna, was left alone with three daughters. Sabina also had a brother, who died in Auschwitz. The war interrupted her education.
At just 15 years old, she was forced to work in Bydgoszcz. After the war, she began working at a clothing factory, where she remained for four decades. She initially worked as a seamstress in a section making caps and later became a team leader.
On 31 May 1949, she married Henryk Świetlik. They spent 55 years together and raised two daughters – Ewa and Barbara. Sabina has two granddaughters and one great-granddaughter. Despite working shifts, she always found time for her family. She helped raise her granddaughters and took care of the household.
Her loved ones describe her as warm, kind-hearted, helpful and easy-going. Family has always been the most important thing in her life. Today, Sabina is lovingly cared for by her daughter Barbara.
Families of residents of the region who will soon celebrate their 100th birthday, as well as those who are even older, are encouraged to contact us by phone at 56 62 18 344 or by e-mail at stulatkowie@kujawsko-pomorskie.pl.
Press Office of the Marshal’s Office
26 August 2026
