Who was Mrs Albina Bassani?

Mrs Albina Bassani was an Italian-born Titanic survivor who worked as a personal maid to wealthy passengers. She survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and went on to live a long life marked by both tragedy and resilience.

Early Life and Family

Albina Bassani was born on May 24, 1880 in Arsiè, Belluno, Veneto, Italy. Her birth name was registered as Alpina Angela Bassani. She was the daughter of Antonio Bassani (1851-1920) and Pietra Fusinato (1852-1916). Albina came from a large family, with several siblings including:

Pietro Antonio (born 1873)
Giovanni Maria (born 1875)
Enrica (1877-1964)
Giovanni Battista (1882-1973)
Angela (born 1885)
Antonio (born 1888)
Effra (1889-1973)
Bianca Adelina (1891-1975)
Ermenegildo

Marriage and Children

On November 27, 1901, at the age of 21, Albina married Gaspare Carlo Bertoccini in Windisch, Switzerland. The couple had two children together. Tragically, Albina became a young widow around 1906 when her husband passed away. After his death, she reverted to using her maiden name of Bassani.

Employment and Journey to America

To provide for her children, Albina found employment in 1911 as a personal maid to Emma Ward Bucknell, a wealthy widow from Philadelphia. Mrs. Bucknell was visiting her daughter, the Countess Pecorini, in Rome at the time.

Albina accompanied Mrs. Bucknell back to the United States, arriving in New York on June 28, 1911 aboard the Kronprinz Wilhelm. She was described as a 35-year-old widow, standing 5'3" tall with dark hair and eyes and a fair complexion.

Titanic Voyage

In late 1911, Albina again traveled with Mrs. Bucknell to Rome. For their return journey to America, they booked passage on the RMS Titanic, boarding at Cherbourg on April 10, 1912 as first-class passengers. Their ticket number was 11813 and cost £76 5s 10d. Albina occupied cabin D15 during the voyage.

Survival of the Titanic Disaster

On the night of April 14, 1912, Albina had just retired to her cabin around 10:30 pm after preparing Mrs. Bucknell for bed. She was suddenly awakened by the impact of the ship striking the iceberg.

Albina’s vivid account of the sinking provides valuable insight into the experiences of Titanic survivors:

She initially returned to her cabin after being assured there was no danger, but later reunited with Mrs. Bucknell to head to the boat deck.
They needed help from a steward to put on their lifebelts due to nervousness.
Albina described the fear and hesitation of passengers to board the lifeboats.
She and Mrs. Bucknell were helped into Lifeboat 8, which Albina claimed was the first boat lowered.
From the lifeboat, she witnessed the Titanic’s lights go out except for a “large green light” at the stern before the ship foundered.

Albina and the other survivors in her lifeboat were picked up by the Carpathia around 8 am on April 15. She praised the crew and passengers of the Carpathia for their efforts to comfort the Titanic survivors.

Life After the Titanic

After arriving in New York, Albina accompanied Mrs. Bucknell to Philadelphia but soon resigned from her position. She filed a claim for $2,890 in lost property with the Oceanic Steamship Navigation Company.

On June 25, 1912, it was reported that Albina had received $100 from the Red Cross and was working as a maid for Major Harris of Fort Greble. At this time, she expressed hope of reuniting with her two children in Italy, though there is no evidence this ever occurred.

Later Life and Family

Albina married for a second time on October 15, 1915 to Augusto Papetti, a widowed shoemaker. The couple had one daughter, Bruna Isabell, born on February 28, 1920. They lived in Lynn, Massachusetts for many years.

By 1950, Albina and Augusto were estranged, with Augusto relocating to Los Angeles while Albina remained in Massachusetts. Augusto passed away in 1954.

Legacy and Death

Albina Papetti (née Bassani) died on July 23, 1960 in Nahant, Massachusetts at the age of 80. She was buried in Melrose Cemetery, Brockton.

Her remarkable life story spans continents and historic events, from her birth in 19th century Italy to her survival of one of the most famous maritime disasters in history. Albina Bassani’s experiences as a Titanic survivor and immigrant to America provide a unique perspective on a pivotal era in world history.