BIOGRAPHY

Siła-Nowicka was born in Masovia, Poland on 30 January 1913. She studied at the University of Warsaw before marrying Władysław Siła-Nowicki in 1939. They had two daughters, Marysię and Agnieszka, and looked after a Jewish child during World War II. Her husband died in 1994 after 55 years of marriage.

In 2008, Siła-Nowicka was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta by then-President Lech Kaczyński for her efforts to promote democratic changes in Poland. That same year, the documentary series including her and her family, Żołnierze Wyklęci (Cursed Soldiers), aired. She was played by actress Małgorzata Piskorz. In 2014, Siła-Nowicka and her daughters handed over her husband’s documents to the Archives of Modern Records in Warsaw.

Siła-Nowicka died on 25 June 2023 at the age of 110 years, 146 days. She was among the top five oldest people to die in the voivodeship of Masovia.

RECOGNITION

A blog was posted about Siła-Nowicka’s 100th birthday, which was when she first was noted for her longevity. She was reported consistently from her 105th birthday onwards, due to her activism and her husband’s notability. For her 109th birthday, Siła-Nowicka received congratulations from Andrzej Duda, the President of Poland.

ATTRIBUTION

• Irena Siła – Nowicka kończy dziś 105 lat Salon24, 30 January 2018

• Życzenia urodzinowe dla Ireny Siły–Nowickiej Prezydent, 30 January 2022

• Pani Irena – najstarsza warszawianka, skończyła 110 lat iOchota, 31 January 2023

GALLERY