She was killed by the Germans during a massacre of the Warsaw Uprising hospitals, where she was being treated for injury she sustained as a member of the Polish resistance (Armia Krajowa).

After graduating from Orzeszkowa Gimnazjum in Tarnów, where Maria was a scouts member, in 1918 she began medical studies at Jagiellonian University.

In 1918–1919 she fought in the defense of Lwów, wearing as a camouflage a man's uniform as woman were not allowed to take part in regular fights.

In 1924 their son Witold was born and Vetulani decided not to continue her studies at the university.

[5] In her apartment at Świętokrzyska Street she organised a contact point and a hiding place for Jewish people.