Home Army Liaison Officer, Mother of Six and Crossword Enthusiast – Maria Turns 104
Maria Perdoch (née Kowalska) is living proof that longevity can go hand in hand with optimism, activity and curiosity about the world. During the Second World War, she served as a liaison officer for the Home Army, and three years after the war ended she was imprisoned by the communist authorities. Today, she continues to impress with her energy – she enjoys meeting people and likes to spend her free time solving crossword puzzles. The senior resident received the Marshal of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region Medal Unitas Durat Palatinatus Cuiaviano-Pomeraniensis. On the occasion of her birthday, she was visited by Dariusz Kurzawa, Member of the Region’s Board.
– May the kindness you show 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 birthday wishes.
She was born on 12 September 1922 in Zawiercie, then part of the Silesian Voivodeship. Her childhood was marked by family tragedy – her father died when she was just one year old. Her mother, Ludwika Mysior, lived to the age of 93. The family initially lived in Zawiercie and later moved to Częstochowa. It was there that Maria lived through the Second World War, a period that left a lasting mark on her memory.
During the war, she served as a liaison officer for the Home Army. Following a denunciation by neighbours, she was arrested for her involvement in the Home Army and, in 1948, spent 29 days in a communist prison. For many years, her underground activity remained a secret – Maria did not even speak about it to her family. It was only much later that her loved ones learned about this remarkable chapter of her life.
In 1946, Maria moved to Sadki, now in Nakło County, where she has remained ever since. In 1949, she married Czesław Perdoch. Together, they ran a small farm of one hectare and 18 ares. The couple raised six children: Urszula, Henryk, Ryszard, Marek, Jacek and Małgorzata. Maria now has thirteen grandchildren and thirty-one great-grandchildren, who today form an important part of her life.
In Sadki, she worked at the local Gminna Spółdzielnia Samopomoc Chłopska cooperative until her retirement. In addition to her professional work, she was socially active for many years. She sang in the Sadkowianie folk group and in the Krajana ensemble. She was also a member of a rosary group and served as a caretaker of the veterans’ association in Sadki.
Maria remains independent, cheerful and very sociable. She has an excellent memory and, despite her age, still enjoys solving crossword puzzles – without glasses. She enjoys company and meeting other people, and her family emphasise that everyone admires her energy and well-being. She also attaches great importance to her appearance and personal care – a hairdresser visits her every week. In her everyday life, she can count on the support of her son.
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 +48 56 62 18 344 or by e-mail at stulatkowie@kujawsko-pomorskie.pl.
Interesting facts about centenarians from Kujawsko-Pomorskie:
- Aurelia Liwińska travelled by plane between Bydgoszcz and Warsaw at the age of 102
- Czesław Romankiewicz is the oldest golfer in Europe
- Wanda Hadrysiak is an honorary citizen of Israel and has been recognised as Righteous Among the Nations
- Halina Pniewska contributed her knowledge during the making of a film about Toruń’s “Szmalcówka”
- the regional government has been honouring centenarian residents of the region since 2018
- more than 585 people have received the Unitas Durat Medal to date
More information is available in the Peers of Independent Poland section.
Press Office of the Marshal’s Office
22 September 2026
