Danuta Szczepańska – 1957 – 2023
How does one say goodbye to someone who cannot be said goodbye to, who passes away in the middle of an active, passionate life, leaving us with sadness and a sense of irreparable loss? This is how Danka Szczepańska, a great friend, cultural researcher and traveller through literature and interesting places in Poland and Europe, passed away on 9 May 2023, after a serious illness with which she fought long and bravely.
During her studies in Polish Studies at the University of Wrocław in the late 1970s, Danka was active in the Student Solidarity Committee and in the 1980s in the officially operating Independent Students’ Union. Danka edited underground magazines such as “Communiqué” and “From Day to Day” and distributed independent publications. Above all, she was simply a good and wise person. In free Poland, she was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Rebirth of Poland.
In 1992 Danka, from Wrocław, where she had studied Polish Studies at the University, returned to Warsaw, her hometown. There she worked until 2002 as a journalist and then as editorial secretary and editor-in-chief of “Notes Wydawniczy”, later she was editor of scientific and popular science books in various Warsaw publishing houses.
She used to come to Wrocław frequently – nostalgically remembering the city of her rebellious youth, enjoying its prosperity, cultivating old friendships. The last time we met her was during a ceremony organised by the City Hall on the 45th anniversary of the Wrocław Student Solidarity Committee.
On 12 December last year in the Old Town Hall. At that time Danka Szczepańska, together with other SKS oppositionists, was honoured by the Mayor of Wrocław Jacek Sutryk with the badge “Wrocław with gratitude – Wratislawia Grato Animo”. We also had the opportunity to talk to her for the last time, to reminisce, to discuss… We will miss Danka, without her our meetings will never be the same as they were.
Friends from the Wrocław SKS
On 22 May 2023 at 2.00 p.m., a funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Parish Church in Mrozy near Warsaw, at ul. Św. Teresy, followed by interment to the family grave in the local cemetery.
Translated by Wiktoria Łakoma (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
