Eugénie Elise Lurette

Who was Miss Eugénie Elise Lurette?

Miss Eugénie Elise Lurette was a French personal maid and Titanic survivor who served the wealthy Spencer family for over three decades. Born in 1852, she traveled the world with her employers and survived the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912 at the age of 59 (fifty-nine).

Early Life and Family

A French Beginning

Eugénie Elise Lurette was born on November 16, 1852, in Hermonville, northern France. She was one of three daughters born to Nicolas Lurette and Marie Gervais. Her sisters were:

• Euphrasie, who married Jean Nanet in Trigny, France
• Eulalie, who married Félix Roulet in Fontaines, Switzerland

Interestingly, Eugénie disliked her given name and chose to go by Elise throughout her life.

Career with the Spencer Family

A Globetrotting Companion

Elise Lurette spent more than 30 years as a live-in companion and maid to the Spencer family. This position allowed her to travel extensively around the world, experiencing different cultures and societies of the early 20th century.

Despite her travels, Lurette never became fluent in English. However, she could hold conversations in English, albeit with a strong French accent, which likely added to her charm and uniqueness in the households she served.

The Spencer Family’s Residences

The Spencers, Lurette’s employers, were a wealthy family with properties in various locations:

• A castle named Drei Linden in Luzern, Switzerland (now the Luzern music conservatory)
• An apartment in Paris, France
• Property in New York City, United States

This variety of residences speaks to the cosmopolitan lifestyle Lurette would have experienced during her service.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Boarding the Unsinkable Ship

On April 10, 1912, Elise Lurette boarded the RMS Titanic at Cherbourg, France. She traveled as a first-class passenger on the Spencer family’s ticket (No. PC 17569) and was assigned to cabin B-80. The ticket price was £146 10s, a substantial sum at the time, reflecting the luxury of first-class accommodations.

A Postcard of Excitement

The day after boarding, Lurette sent a postcard from Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland, expressing her delight at the ship’s opulence:

“Many kisses to you all. Splendid, dazzling luxury, delighted by comfort unknown until this day. Your affectionate aunt.”

Little did she know that this journey would become one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.

The Night of the Sinking

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, Lurette’s life changed forever. She was in her cabin when crew members knocked on her door, urging her to evacuate. In a moment of quick thinking, she:

1. Put her coat on over her nightdress
2. Took Mrs. Spencer with her to the deck
3. Carried with her in her coat:
   • A plan of first-class accommodation
   • A menu card from April 12
   • A $5 coin

These items would later become valuable artifacts and reminders of the tragedy.

Survival and Rescue

Lurette’s account of the sinking is harrowing. From her lifeboat, she witnessed:

• People diving from the Titanic freezing quickly in the icy water
• Screams piercing the darkness
• Desperate individuals trying to climb into the lifeboat, only to be pushed back by fearful occupants

She rowed through the night with other survivors until they were rescued by the RMS Carpathia.

After the Titanic

The Search for Mr. Spencer

Upon reaching New York, Lurette sent a Marconigram on April 17, 1912, at 1:06 pm:

Mr Wolcott Lane 80 Broadway New York City Mrs Spencer aboard Carpathia no information regarding Mr Spencer Elise

Tragically, when the Mackay Bennett arrived in Halifax on April 30, 1912, Lurette searched in vain for Mr. Spencer’s body among the recovered victims.

Later Life and Legacy

In her twilight years, Elise Lurette:

• Divided her time between Paris and Switzerland
• Received a $200 pension from the Spencer family
• Had little contact with the Spencers in her later years

From 1938, Lurette suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and lived in Fontenay-aux-Roses, France. She passed away on January 31, 1940, at the age of 87 (eighty-seven).

What became of Elise Lurette’s final resting place?

Elise Lurette was initially buried in the Cimetiere Communal at Clamart, Paris, France. However, her grave has since been removed, leaving no physical memorial to this remarkable Titanic survivor. Despite this, her story lives on as a testament to the resilience of those who survived one of history’s greatest maritime disasters.