| Maria Helena Kaczyńska | |
|---|---|
| First Lady of Poland | |
| In office December 23, 2005 – April 10, 2010 |
|
| President | Lech Kaczyński |
| Preceded by | Jolanta Kwaśniewska |
| Succeeded by | Anna Komorowska |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Maria Helena Mackiewicz 21 August 1942 Machowo |
| Died | 10 April 2010 (aged 67) Smolensk, Russia |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Spouse(s) | Lech Kaczyński |
| Relations | Lidia Piszczako (mother) Czesław Mackiewicz (father) |
| Children | Marta Dubieniecka |
| Residence | Presidential Palace, Warsaw (official) |
| Alma mater | University of Gdańsk (M.S.) |
| Profession | Economist |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Maria Kaczyńska (Polish pronunciation: [ˈmarja kaˈt͡ʂɨɲska]; born Mackiewicz; 21 August 1942[a] – 10 April 2010[1]) was the First Lady of Poland from 2005-10 as the wife of Lech Kaczyński, late President of Poland.[2][3]
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Born as Maria Helena Mackiewicz in Machowo (near Kobylnik, now Belarus)[4][5] to Lidia and Czesław Mackiewicz.[6] Her father fought in the Vilnius Armia Krajowa (Home Army), while an uncle fought in the Polish II Corps of Gen. Władysław Anders at the Battle of Monte Cassino; another uncle was murdered by the NKVD (Soviet secret police)[7] at Katyń.[6]
Maria Kaczyńska attended primary and secondary schools in Rabka Zdrój in southern Poland. She studied transport economics and foreign trade in Sopot at what is now the University of Gdańsk.[6] After graduating in 1966, she worked at the Maritime Institute in Gdańsk, where she met Lech Kaczyński in 1976. They married in 1978,[6] and had a daughter.[6] In addition to her native Polish, Maria Kaczyńska spoke English, French, and some Spanish and Russian.[6]
On 10 April 2010, 10:56 MSD (06:56 UTC), Maria Kaczyńska, and her husband, Polish President Lech Kaczyński, died when the Polish Air Force Tupolev Tu-154M they were aboard crashed while attempting to land at Smolensk-North Airport in the Russian city of Smolensk. All 89 passengers on board and the 7 crew members were killed.[8]
The Kaczyńskis were traveling with several senior government figures on a trip to mark the 70th anniversary of the World War II Katyn Massacre, where thousands of Polish military officers were executed by the NKVD.[9]
She was laid to rest alongside her husband on 18 April 2010 in the honorable royal crypt at the Wawel Cathedral.[10]
Her diary was found by her daughter after her death, sparking an interest among many publishers who desired to buy it and release it. However, Marta Kaczyńska-Dubieniecka stated the diary was too precious for her to sell and also said that she was not likely to reveal its content.[11]
a According to list of passports of the Tu-154 flight.[12][13] Some media gives her date of birth as 21 August 1943.[14][15]
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jolanta Kwaśniewska |
First Lady of Poland 2005–2010 |
Succeeded by Anna Komorowska |