Who was Anna Katherine Kelly?

Anna Katherine Kelly, also known as “Annie Katie,” was a 20-year-old Irish survivor of the Titanic disaster who later became a nun. Born on February 4, 1892, in Cuilmullagh, Co Mayo, Ireland, she embarked on a journey that would not only change her life but also shape her future as a dedicated educator and religious figure.

Early Life and Family

Anna Katherine Kelly was born to John Kelly and Ellen Flaherty in the rural community of Cuilmullagh, Co Mayo, Ireland. Growing up in early 20th century Ireland, Anna’s formative years were likely influenced by the strong Catholic traditions and close-knit family structures typical of rural Irish communities at the time.

The Journey to a New Life

Embarking on the Titanic

In 1912, at the age of 20 (twenty), Anna made the momentous decision to leave her homeland for the promise of a new life in America. Her destination was Chicago, Illinois, where she planned to join her cousins, Anna and Mary Garvey, who resided at 303 Eugenie Street.

Anna boarded the RMS Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh) as a third-class passenger. Her ticket, number 9234, cost £7 15s, a significant sum for a young woman of her background. She was part of a group of passengers from Co Mayo, led by Katherine McGowan, embarking on what they hoped would be a journey to a brighter future.

The Fateful Night

On the night of April 14, 1912, Anna’s life took a dramatic turn. In her own account of the disaster, she reported that:

Stewards failed to wake the steerage passengers in time
Third-class passengers who went up on deck were told to return, as there was no danger
She was saved in lifeboat 16, claiming that the Bourke family had vacated, making room for her

The experience of that night left an indelible mark on Anna. She was later haunted by what she described as the “wild scenes on the boat just before it went down.”

Survival and Aftermath

Recovery in New York

Following her rescue, Anna was hospitalized in New York City. Upon release, she and fellow survivor Anna McGowan found themselves in a precarious situation:

They were wearing only nightgowns
They had old shoes given to them by strangers
They were provided with coats for warmth

Journey to Chicago

The two Annas traveled from New York to Chicago, where they were met by Dr. Mary O’Brien Porter of the Catholic Woman’s League Protectorate. Recognizing the young women’s plight, Dr. O’Brien Porter appealed to the Mayor of Chicago to allocate some of the city’s disaster relief funds to help them.

A Life Transformed: From Survivor to Sister

Answering a Higher Calling

The Titanic disaster profoundly impacted Anna’s life trajectory. In the years following, she made the decision to become a nun. Upon her ordination, she took the name Sister Patrick Joseph Kelly, dedicating her life to service and education.

A Life of Teaching and Service

Sister Patrick Joseph’s post-Titanic life was characterized by:

Teaching primarily in the Chicago, Illinois area
Periods of service in Detroit, Michigan and Des Moines, Iowa
A commitment to education that lasted most of her life

Maintaining Connections

Despite her new life in America, Sister Patrick Joseph did not forget her roots. She returned to Ireland at least once to visit her sister, Mrs. Agnes Kelly Flanagan, who lived in Gortnaden, Crossmolina, Co Mayo.

Final Years and Legacy

In 1969, at the age of 77 (seventy-seven), Sister Patrick Joseph Kelly retired to the motherhouse in Adrian, Michigan. She passed away shortly after on December 28, 1969, having lived a life that spanned from the rural fields of Mayo to the classrooms of Chicago, with an extraordinary maritime disaster in between.

Sister Patrick Joseph Kelly’s final resting place is in the Adrian Dominican Sisters Cemetery, Adrian, Michigan, in section Circle two 1961-1976. Her journey from Titanic survivor to dedicated nun and educator serves as a testament to human resilience and the capacity for profound personal transformation in the face of adversity.