Wanda Szajowska
- POLAND supercentenarian data
- UKRAINE supercentenarian data
- Full name: Wanda Szajowska (nee Zarzycka)
- Lifespan: (12.02.1911 – 26.08.2022)
- Age: 111 years, 195 days
- Birthplace: Lemberg, Austria-Hungary (now Lviv, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine
- Last residence: Kraków, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
- Application date: 12.02.2021
- Validation date: 03.08.2022
- Validation source: Wacław Jan Kroczek/Andrzej Roszkowski
Biography
Wanda Szajowska was born in Lviv, Austria-Hungary (now Lviv, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine) on 12 February 1911. She was a trained pianist, and was believed to be the oldest known living pianist in the world at the time of her death.
When she was young, Szajowska graduated from a conservatory, where she took part in singing and piano classes. She later went on to become a piano teacher at the Experimental Music College in Krakow.
At the age of 100, Szajowska underwent arm surgery after fracturing her wrist, but was still able to play the piano.
In February 2021, she celebrated her 110th birthday and became a supercentenarian, the second supercentenarian in history of Lesser Poland Voivodeship, behind Maria Roszak (sister Cecylia) (1908-2018) of Na Gródku convent. She would later surpass the age of sister Cecylia, becoming the oldest person in history of Lesser Poland. On 12 February 2022, Wanda Szajowska celebrated her 111th birthday, as the first person in history of Lesser Poland Voivodeship. She was then visited by Wacław Jan Kroczek, GRG Correspondent for Poland and Nordic Countries.
Wanda Szajowska, being herself 111 years, 188 days old, became the oldest known living person in Poland, following the death of 116-year-old Tekla Juniewicz on 19 August 2022. Her reign as the Doyenne of Poland lasted for one week.
Wanda Szajowska died at her home in Krakow, Lesser Poland on 26 August 2022, at the age of 111 years, 195 days. According to a friend of hers, Szajowska had been in good health until a few days before she died, when her health had reportedly started to deteriorate.
Wanda Szajowska at age 108 in conversation with Wacław Jan Kroczek; Kraków, Lesser Poland; February 2019.
Wanda Szajowska on her 111th birthday (2022)
Longevity recognition
- Oldest living person in Lesser Poland Voivodeship (25.05.2020 – 26.08.2022)
- Longevity Recordholder of Lesser Poland Voivodeship (2021 – present)
- Doyenne of Poland (19.08.2022 – 26.08.2022)
Validation
The supercentenarian case of Wanda Szajowska was meticulously documented and verified by Wacław Jan Kroczek, GRG Correspondent for Poland and Nordic Countries, Andrzej Roszkowski, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on 3 August 2022.
Wanda Szajowska on her wedding day.
Wanda Szajowska with pope John Paul II (1990s)
Wanda Szajowska on her 107th birthday (2018)
Wanda Szajowska on her 108th birthday with Andrzej Duda, President of Poland (2019)
Wanda Szajowska aged 108, playing the piano
Wanda Szajowska on her 109th birthday (2020)
Wanda Szajowska on her 110th birthday (2021)