Happy birthday, Ms. Izabela!
Torun resident Izabela Albina Cetkowska have joined the ranks of those honored with the Unitas Durat Palatinatus Cuiaviano-Pomeraniensis medal. The dignified jubilarian celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by relatives and friends. This special meeting was also attended by the Mayor of Toruń Paweł Gulewski and a member of the regional board Marek Wojtkowski.
Izabela Albina Cetkowska, née Dziadecka, was born on December 4, 1924 in the region of Małopolska, in the village Rzegocin. Her dad, Antoni, worked in oil exploration, while her mother, Bronisława, was a homemaker. She had seven siblings. At the age of two, she first moved with her family to Zielnów (Grudziądz County). By the time the war broke out, Mrs. Izabela’s family had moved many times. Her grandparents leased farms between Chełmża and Wąbrzeźno. One of Izabela’s still vivid memories is an unsuccessful attempt to escape by horse-drawn wagon, shortly after the outbreak of war, from a farm in Orzechowo (Wąbrzeźno County). She spent the time of the occupation doing forced labor on a farm owned by a German family.
In 1953, she married Konrad Cetkowski and settled on her in-laws’ farm. She gave birth to two daughters and lived to see four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She lived in Orzechowo until 1997. Due to health reasons, she and her husband moved to Toruń. By her beloved husband’s side, she lived almost 70 years; she was widowed five years ago.
From tending flowers to following the news, our jubilarian has many passions. However, she always puts her family first, whom she enjoys hosting in her home. By her own admission, the secret to her good shape lies in hard work and a healthy diet.
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 so far. 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 Krzemińska
Spokesperson for the Marshal’s Office
December 6, 2024