Irena Siła-Nowicka
- Full name: Irena Siła-Nowicka
- Lifespan: (30.01.1913 – 25.06.2023)
- Age: 110 years, 146 days
- Birthplace:
- Last residence: Warszawa, Masovia Voivodeship, Poland
- Application date: 30.01.2023
- Validation date: 24.08.2023
- Validation source: Wacław Jan Kroczek
Biography
Irena Siła-Nowicka was a wife of the late Władysław Siła-Nowicki, who was a notable lawyer, World War II veteran, and judge at the State Tribunal in Poland between 1992-1993 and mother of the oppositionist from the period of the People’s Republic of Poland, Agnieszka Dąbrowska.
She was born on 30 January 1913. Before World War II, she studied at the University of Warsaw. She married her husband in 1939 and during the German occupation, she lived with her husband and daughters in Wylągi (part of Kazimierz Dolny). During this period, the couple helped them hide, hired them to take care of their daughters, and organized false documents for a young Jewish woman, Barbara Nowak, who survived the occupation thanks to this support.
On 25 February 2014, she and her daughters handed over the ceremony – the archive of Władysław Siła-Nowicki to the Archives of Modern Records in Warsaw.
By order of the President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Kaczyński, of 7 November 2008, she received the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta for outstanding merits in promoting democratic changes in Poland, for achievements in professional and social work undertaken for the benefit of the country.
In 2021, she became a laureate of the Doors of Freedom awarded by the Scena Kultury Association. In 2022, on the occasion of her 109th birthday, she received a letter of wishes from the President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, and was also awarded the Medal of the Century of Regained Independence.
In the fictionalized documentary series Cursed Soldiers from 2008, dir. Joanna Maro in the role of Irena Siła-Nowicka was played by Małgorzata Piskorz.
In January 2023, she celebrated her 110th birthday and became a supercentenarian.
Irena Siła-Nowicka died in Warszawa, Masovia Voivodeship, Poland on 25 June 2023 at the age of 110 years, 146 days. At time of her death, she was the oldest living resident of Warsaw as well as the second oldest known living person in Poland, behind Józefa Ciesielska of Królewiec, Witkowo Municipality, Gniezno County, Greater Poland Voivodeship.
Irena Siła-Nowicka, aged 106, (C) and Jonny Daniels (P), head of the From the Depths Foundation, during the ceremony during which public thanks were given to Poles who saved Jews during World War II. Warsaw, March 4, 2019. Photo: PAP/R. Pietruszka
Irena Siła-Nowicka with Lech Kaczyński, President of Poland (served between 2005-2010)
Longevity recognition
- Oldest living person in Masovia Voivodeship (05.06.2021 – 25.06.2023)
- 2nd oldest living person in Poland (behind Józefa Ciesielska)
Validation
Irena Siła-Nowicka’s age was meticulously examined and verified by Waclaw Jan Kroczek, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) as of 24 August 2023.
Irena Siła-Nowicka, aged 95, with Lech Kaczyński, President of Poland.
Irena Siła-Nowicka, aged 110, with Wacław Jan Kroczek (March 2023)