Righteous Zofia Celińska (née Lipska) Passes Away

Mateusz Szczepaniak, 16 November 2016
With great sorrow, we announce the passing of economist and Home Army soldier, Zofia Celińska, a Righteous Among the Nations and holder of the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polish Revival. She died on 28th July 2016 at the age of 97. The funeral service will take place on 2nd August at 3:00pm at the parish church in Wyszogród. Burial will take place the following day at 1:00pm at the Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw (section 116 near gate V).

Zofia Celińska was born on 8th July 1919 in Warsaw. She was the daughter of Roman and Aniela Lipski, and the sister of Jan Józef Lipski and Maria Dmochowska. In 1938, she graduated from the Maria Konopnicka Girls High School in Warsaw, where she became friends with many Jewish students.

During World War II, she served in the Home Army, co-published the "Biuletyn Informacyjny” (Information Bulletin) and attended clandestine classes at the Main School of Commerce. With others, she distributed aid to Jews. In her home at 69 Filtrowa Street, were hidden her friend Zofia Lewinówna, and Zofia's aunt and uncle, Rachelą and Władysław Kohan, plus Ola Zweibaum. For providing this help, in 2001, Zofia was honoured with the title of Righteous Among the Nations. Read more about this story of aid.

Following the War, she completed her studies in economics at the Main School of Commerce. She then worked at the Bureau of Design and Studio of Special Building. She married engineer Dr. Józef Celiński, with whom she had two sons - Andrzej and  Wojciech, plus grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Zofia Lewinówna, whom she saved, worked with Władysław Bartoszewski on one of the most important books about helping Jews during the Holocaust - "The One from my Homeland. Poles Helping Jews 1939-1945“.