Józefa Ciesielska was born in Królewiec, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland on 6 March 1912. She was the daughter of Wojciech and Katarzyna Staniszewski. In 1945, she married Stefan Ciesielski in Niechanowo, and the couple had two sons, Franciszek and Lucjan. After getting married, she moved to Żagań County for a while. In 1976, she returned to Królewiec.
On her 111th birthday, Mayor Marian Gadziński, accompanied by his deputy Marek Wiatrowski and district councillor Krzysztof Bykowski, extended their congratulations and best wishes to her, presenting her with a bouquet of flowers and a basket of sweets.
Józefa Ciesielska passed away in Witkowo, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland, on 3 August 2023, at the age of 111 years, 150 days.
On 6 March 2022, her 110th birthday, she became the oldest (known) living person in Greater Poland Voivodeship, following the passing of Joanna Lipińska.
On 26 August 2022, following the passing of Wanda Szajowska, she became the oldest (known) living person in Poland, at the age of 110 years, 173 days.
Her age has not been validated.
* “Pani Józefa Ciesielska z Królewca obchodziła 107. urodziny. Jest najstarszą mieszkanką powiatu” – Gniezno Nasze Miasto, 7 March 2019
* “Witkowo. Józefa Ciesielska skończyła 110 lat! To najstarsza mieszkanka Wielkopolski” – Gniezno Nasze Miasto, 7 March 2022
* “Pani Józefa z Wielkopolski skończyła 111 lat. Jest najstarszą mieszkanką gminy” – Głos Wielkopolski, 6 March 2023
* “Zmarła najstarsza Polka. Mieszkała niedaleko Słupcy” – Słupca, 7 August 2023