Who was Mrs Anna Elisabeth Judith Dyker?

Mrs Anna Elisabeth Judith Dyker was a 22-year-old American Titanic survivor who embarked on the ill-fated maiden voyage as a third-class passenger. Born on November 24, 1889, in Massachusetts, she was an aspiring singer and music teacher who survived the tragic sinking but lost her husband in the disaster.

Early Life and Family

Anna Elisabeth Judith Dyker, née Andersson, was born to Swedish immigrant parents Carl August and Matilda Johanna Anderson. Her father, born on June 7, 1848, in Åker, Sweden, worked as a carpenter, while her mother was born on November 3, 1858, in Synnerby, Sweden. The couple had married around 1882 in Sweden before immigrating to the United States in 1888.

Anna had two known siblings:

Carl Gunnar Fritiof ‘Fritz’, born on April 8, 1885, in Jönköping Västra, Sweden
Gustav William, born in October 1891 in Connecticut (or Massachusetts)

Education and Early Career

Anna’s passion for music led her to pursue a career as a singer. She attended Yale Music School to hone her skills and was actively working towards becoming a professional singer. In addition to her studies, Anna also gave music lessons, demonstrating her commitment to the art form.

Marriage and Titanic Journey

Who did Anna marry and why were they on the Titanic?

Around 1909, Anna married Adolf Fredrik Dyker, a native of Stockholm born in 1888. Adolf worked as a tram conductor in New Haven, Connecticut, where the couple resided at 468 Washington Street. By late 1911, they were in the process of building their own house in New Haven.

However, their plans changed when Adolf’s father passed away on December 1, 1911. This unfortunate event compelled the couple to travel to Sweden to settle his estate. It was on their return journey from Sweden that they boarded the Titanic at Southampton as third-class passengers.

Titanic Ticket Details:

Ticket Number: 347072
Cost: £13 18s (13 pounds, 18 shillings)

The Fateful Night

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg, Adolf Dyker demonstrated true heroism. He ensured his wife’s safety by placing her in a lifeboat, kissing her goodbye, and stepping aside. Tragically, Adolf did not survive the sinking, and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

Aftermath and Recovery

How did the Titanic disaster affect Anna’s life?

The sinking of the Titanic had a profound impact on Anna’s life, both physically and emotionally. Upon reaching New York, she sent a poignant telegram to New Haven: “Liza saved, Fred lost.” In a letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Stockholm, Anna described her dire situation:

“I lost my husband and everything I owned, I was wounded when I was brought from Titanic, that together with sorrow and worries has completely broke me down. My health have not recovered, I have tried to done some work to earn my living, as I’m now living in my parents home and my father is old and cannot earn too much, I cannot fully be a burden to him, but my strength doesn’t allow me to do further work.”

The Red Cross files provide further insight into Anna’s condition:

She was confined to bed for many weeks after the disaster
Her voice, crucial to her career as a singer, was temporarily lost
She faced uncertainty about regaining her singing abilities

Financial Assistance and Legal Action

Anna received financial support from various relief organizations:

$1,161.20 from American relief funds
$300 from “The Women’s Relief Committee” in New York

Additionally, she took legal action against the White Star Line, suing for:

$4,000 for lost luggage
$14,000 for the loss of her husband

Life After Titanic

How did Anna rebuild her life after the tragedy?

After the disaster, Anna persevered and continued her career as a music teacher. A few years later, she remarried John Alfred Josephson (born 1889), a clerk at Westin Electric and a native of Finland. The couple settled in New Haven, Connecticut, and had two sons:

Kenneth Alfred (born June 13, 1917, died June 7, 1999)
John W. (born August 9, 1919)

The family later moved to East Orange, New Jersey, before 1930. Unfortunately, Anna was widowed again when John passed away in 1937. She did not remarry and spent many years living in Fort Lee, Bergen, New Jersey.

Final Years and Legacy

Anna Elisabeth Judith Dyker spent the last year of her life at 3 Seneca Place, Haworth, Bergen, New Jersey. She passed away at her home on February 19, 1961, at the age of 71 (seventy-one). She was laid to rest in Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield, Essex, New Jersey, alongside her second husband.

Anna’s story serves as a testament to the resilience of Titanic survivors, showcasing how one woman overcame tremendous loss and adversity to rebuild her life in the wake of one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.