She was the daughter of an engineer, Franciszek Vetulani (1856−1921), and Katarzyna Ipohorska-Lenkiewicz (1868−1915). She had a brother, Stanisław, and two sisters, Zofia and Cecylia. Her family lived in numerous cities, first in Tarnów, later in Kraków, Lwów, Zakopane and back in Tarnów. After graduating from Orzeszkowa Gimnazjum in Tarnów, where Maria was a scouts member, in 1918 she began medical studies at Jagiellonian University. She was a member of the Polish Military Organisation. 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. She claimed to be a Jagiellonian University student, Marian Ipohorski.