Helena Wilhelmina Rosblom

Who was Mrs Helena Wilhelmina Rosblom?

Mrs Helena Wilhelmina Rosblom was a Finnish passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on April 22, 1870, in Ylikeeri, near Raumo, Finland, she was 41 (forty-one) years old when she embarked on her tragic journey to reunite with her husband in America. Her story is a poignant example of the many families torn apart by the Titanic disaster.

Early Life and Family

A Finnish Upbringing

Helena Wilhelmina Rosblom, née Raula, was born into a farming family in Finland. Her parents were:

Father: Gustaf Lovisasson (born November 17, 1828, at Lappi, Åbo)
Mother: Ulrika Wilhelmina Gabrielsdotter (born May 1, 1835, at Laitila)

Helena’s mother worked as a maid before marrying Gustaf on December 21, 1862. Growing up, Helena had at least two known siblings:

Gustaf Reinhold (born July 12, 1863)
Karl Wiktor (born March 14, 1865)

Marriage and Children

Helena married Viktor Rosblom, who was born on January 8, 1871. Together, they built a family in Raumo, Åbo och Björneborgs County, Finland. The couple had three children:

Viktor Rikard (born 1894)
Eino Wilhelm (born February 2, 1900)
Salli Helena (born 1910)

The Journey to America

Viktor’s American Dream

By 1912, Helena’s husband Viktor had already established a pattern of working in the United States:

February 5, 1905: First arrived in New York aboard the Oceanic
Spent approximately three years in America before returning to Finland
March 31, 1910: Returned to New York aboard the Adriatic
Settled in Seaside, Clatsop County, Oregon

Helena’s Fateful Decision

With her husband settled in Oregon, Helena made the life-changing decision to join him. On March 23, 1912, she left Finland with two of her children:

Viktor Rikard (18 years old)
Salli Helena (2 years old)

Notably, her middle child, Eino Wilhelm, refused to leave Finland. In a chilling premonition, the 12-year-old boy feared he would “go with them to drown.”

The Titanic Voyage

A Delayed Departure

Originally scheduled to travel aboard the Olympic, Helena and her children faced an unexpected delay:

Upon arrival in Southampton, young Salli became ill
Their departure was postponed
They eventually boarded the Titanic on April 10, 1912

Titanic Ticket Details

The Rosbloms traveled as third-class passengers:

Ticket number: 370129
Cost: £20, 4s, 3d (equivalent to about £2,400 or $3,000 in 2023)

The Tragic Fate

Helena Wilhelmina Rosblom, along with her two children, Viktor and Salli, perished in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified.

The Aftermath

Viktor Rosblom, Helena’s husband, was initially unaware of their travel on the Titanic
He discovered the truth weeks after the disaster
Viktor received £100 in compensation for his loss (approximately £12,000 or $15,000 in 2023)

The Surviving Son

Eino’s Journey

Almost two years after the sinking, Eino Wilhelm Rosblom, the only surviving child, finally made the journey to America:

March 22, 1914: Arrived in New York aboard the Cedric
Reunited with his father in Seaside, Oregon

A New Life in America

The father and son adapted to life in the United States:

They Anglicized their surname to “Ross”
Viktor never remarried and lived with Eino until his death on February 22, 1933, at the age of 62
Eino later lived with Hilma Hannelius (born 1889), also from Finland, though it’s unclear if they married
Eino passed away in 1963 at the age of 63

Helena Wilhelmina Rosblom’s story serves as a haunting reminder of the countless personal tragedies behind the Titanic disaster. Her decision to reunite her family in America led to an unimaginable loss, forever altering the course of the Rosblom family history.