Anna Gawłowska
- Full name: Anna Gawłowska
- Lifespan: 06.06.1913
- Age: 110 years
- Birthplace: Teschen, Austria-Hungary (now Cieszyn, Cieszyn County, Silesia Voivodeship, Poland
- Last residence: Czerwionka-Leszczyny, Rybnik County, Silesia Voivodeship, Poland
- Application date: 06.06.2023
- Validation date: 12.11.2023
- Validation source: Waclaw Jan Kroczek/Urszula Gawłowska
Biography
Anna Gawłowska was born in Teschen, Austria-Hungary (now Cieszyn, Cieszyn County, Silesia Voivodeship, Poland), on June 6, 1913, during the reign of Archduke Friedrich, Duke of Teschen. Anna Gawłowska’s life has woven a rich tapestry of love, family, and enduring memories. In 1936, she embarked on the journey of marriage, and in 1947, she added another chapter by moving to Czerwionka, where she became the proud mother of a son and a daughter. She lived with her family first at the Alee of Saint Barbara, and then in the Leszczyny castle. She is an extremely cheerful, kind and very liked person. With a legacy that now extends to a cherished grandchild and two great-grandchildren, Anna resides alongside her daughter Urszula, embracing the warmth of family bonds.
Reportedly, Anna Gawłowska was still solving crosswords at age 104. On occasion of each birthday she was visited by Major of Czerwionka-Leszczyny, Wiesław Janiszewski. When asked about her secret to a long and cheerful life, Anna replies that one has to accept everything that fate sends us and smile at the world.
On June 6, 2023, Anna Gawłowska stepped into the exquisite realm of supercentenarians as she marked her 110th birthday, a joyous occasion announced on the prestigious World Supercentenarian Forum. At the time of her 110th birthday, Anna Gawłowska was the 4th-oldest living person in Poland behind Józefa Ciesielska (111) of Witkowo (Królewiec Municipality) Greater Poland Voivodeship, Jadwiga Żak-Stewart (110) of Łódź, Łódź Voivodeship, and Irena Siła-Nowicka (110) of Warsaw, Masovia Voivodeship.
Holding a special place in the annals of Polish longevity, Anna Gawłowska, as of Nov. 12, 2023, stood as the second-oldest known living person in Poland, having succeeded Józefa Ciesielska, who left us on August 3, 2023.
Additionally, following the passing of Tekla Juniewicz on August 19, 2022, Anna Gawłowska assumed the title of the oldest living person in Silesia Voivodeship. In the history of this region, she is the second supercentenarian to be acknowledged after Tekla Juniewicz.
Recognizing her exceptional journey, on August 18, 2023, the Gerontology Research Group proudly declared on the World Supercentenarian Forum that Anna Gawłowska has been accorded the esteemed pending status.
Recognition
- Oldest living person in Silesia Voivodeship (19.08.2022 – present)
Validation
Anna Gawłowska was verified by Wacław Jan Kroczek, GRG Poland Correspondent, with the significant and invaluable help of Urszula Gawłowska, and validated on November 12, 2023.
Anna Gawłowska on her 110th birthday with GRG-Poland Correspondent Wacław Jan Kroczek.
Anna Gawłowska on her 104th birthday.
Anna Gawłowska on her 105th birthday, with Wiesław Janiszewski, major of Czerwionka-Leszczyny, and her children.
Anna Gawłowska on her 105th birthday.
Anna Gawłowska on her 106th birthday.
Anna Gawłowska on her 107th birthday, with her daughter Urszula Gawłowska.
Anna Gawłowska on her 108th birthday.
Anna Gawłowska on her 109th birthday.
Anna Gawłowska on her 110th birthday (June 6, 2023).
Anna Gawłowska, 110, with Wacław Jan Kroczek on November 13, 2023, honored on occasion of the 105th Poland’s Independence Anniversary.
Photo courtesy of rybnik.com, Urszula Gawłowska’s archive, and Wacław Jan Kroczek’s archive.