A family friend, Maciej Krzyżanowski, has told the media that even though she was increasingly weak in recent days, the news that eight days ago she became the oldest Pole made her happy.
“For some time now, she had kept saying that she was going to the other side, that she had lived for too long and that she must join her beloved parents”, he said.
At the age of 100, Wanda Szajowska underwent surgery after breaking her wrist. This did not prevent her from playing the piano. Her neighbours say they will miss her playing which was a pleasure to listen to. According to many, she was the world’s oldest pianist.
Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki paid tribute to Szajowska in a Facebook post.
Wanda Szajowska was born on February 12, 1911 in Lwów (now Lviv in Ukraine), where she completed piano and vocal studies at the city’s Music Conservatory.
Having moved to Kraków after World War II, she continued her musical education and subsequently taught piano performance at the Experimental Music Studio, which was founded in Kraków in 1946 by Krystyna Longchamps-Druszkiewiczowa. Her students included the now famous conductor Antoni Wit.
Szajowska became Poland’s oldest person following the death on August 19 of Tekla Juniewicz, who was 116 years, 2 months and 6 days old.
Poland’s oldest person now is Elżbieta Rogala, who is 110 years old.
(mk/pm)