The oldest Polish woman - Wanda Szajowska - died at home in Kraków on Friday at the age of 111, her friend Maciej Krzyżanowski told Polish Press Agency (PAP). Szajowska was probably the oldest female pianist in the world.
"She felt weaker in the last few days. But she was happy when I told her she had become the oldest Polish woman. For some time she would say she was moving to the other side, that she lived for too long and had to join her beloved parents," Krzyżanowski told PAP.
Wanda Szajowska enjoyed good health. Only calcium and oxycort lay next to her bed. She underwent a hand surgery at the age of 100 after she had broken her wrist. That, however, did not stop her from playing the piano. Her neighbours from Kraków's Salwator district say they will miss listening to melodies Szajowska used to play to make their day.
Born in Lviv on February 12, 1911, Szajowska graduated from the local music conservatory from piano and singing classes. After the WWII, she moved to Kraków and lived there until the end of her days. She brought her piano along and would continue to play music.
Szajowska studied history of art in Kraków. She would also piano lessons in Experimental Music Study, founded by Krystyna Longchamps-Druszkiewiczowa in 1946. One of the school alumni is Polish conductor and composer Antoni Wit.
Szajowska became the oldest woman in Poland only last week after her predecessor Tekla Juniewicz had died on August 19 at the age of 116. On the day of her death, Juniewicz was the second-oldest person in the world.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP