Ellen Mary Mockler - Titanic Universe

Who was Ellen Mary Mockler?

Ellen Mary Mockler was an Irish Titanic survivor who later became a nun known as Sister Mary Patricia. Born on April 1, 1889, in Currafarry, Galway, Ireland, she survived the sinking of the Titanic at the age of 23 (twenty-three) and went on to lead a long, remarkable life dedicated to religious service and education.

Early Life and Family

Ellen Mary Mockler was born into a Roman Catholic family in rural Ireland. Her parents were:

Father: Andrew Mockler (born circa 1850), a farmer
Mother: Catherine Mitchell (born circa 1850)

Ellen was the youngest of six children, with her known siblings being:

Martin (born August 10, 1877)
Michael (born November 1, 1881)
Eleanor Margaret (born October 26, 1883)
Bridget (born September 17, 1886)

Growing up in a bilingual household, Ellen was fluent in both Irish and English. The family lived in Currafarry, Killian, County Galway, where Ellen appeared in the 1901 and 1911 censuses.

Journey on the Titanic

Why did Ellen Mockler board the Titanic?

Ellen boarded the Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh) on April 11, 1912, as a third-class passenger. Her journey was funded by her sisters Margaret and Bridget, who had already settled in Manhattan. Ellen’s ticket details were:

Ticket number: 330980
Cost: £7 17s 7d

Who were Ellen’s travel companions?

Ellen traveled with a group of fellow Galway natives, including:

Thomas Smyth
Margaret Mannion
Thomas Kilgannon
Martin Gallagher

In later interviews, she mentioned a possible third female companion, potentially Honor Healy.

What happened on the night of the sinking?

Ellen’s account of the Titanic’s sinking provides vivid details of the chaos and confusion:

Many steerage passengers remained below decks
The crew provided little guidance or assistance
She witnessed chickens running around, escaped from the kitchens
A lady was calmly playing piano in a third-class public room
Ellen briefly returned to her cabin for her handbag but was persuaded to leave it behind

Rescue and Survival

Ellen and her friend Margaret Mannion were rescued in the same lifeboat, possibly lifeboat 16. Ellen described the boat as only partially full and recalled it began to leak while in the water. Clad only in a dress and lifebelt, she felt the bitter cold acutely.

Upon arriving in New York, Ellen:

Was examined in a hospital
Was described as a 19-year-old servant
Headed to her sister Mrs. Lynch at 412 West 17th Street, New York

Life After the Titanic

How did Ellen’s life change after the Titanic?

Following her Titanic experience, Ellen’s life took several significant turns:

Worked for the National Biscuit Company in New York for five years
Moved to Worcester, Massachusetts in 1917
Entered the order of the Sisters of Mercy in 1917
Professed into the order in 1920
Took final vows in 1925, becoming Sister Mary Patricia

What was Sister Mary Patricia’s religious career like?

As Sister Mary Patricia, Ellen:

Taught in schools
Worked as an administrator for the Catholic School Diocese
Served as a sacristan for 36 years at St. Paul’s Cathedral
Later worked at the chapel of the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse in Worcester
Retired in 1976

Legacy and Later Years

Ellen Mary Mockler, as Sister Mary Patricia, became one of only two known Titanic survivors to become a nun. Even in her advanced years, she remained active and often gave interviews about her Titanic experience.

In one of her final interviews for a Worcester newspaper in 1982, when asked about the famous hymn “Nearer My God to Thee” supposedly played by the band, she quipped, “If they did, I never heard it.”

Sister Mary Patricia passed away on April 1, 1984, her 95th (ninety-fifth) birthday. She was laid to rest in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Leicester, Massachusetts, leaving behind a legacy of survival, service, and faith that spanned nearly a century.