Hildur Elisabeth Hirvonen

Who was Miss Hildur Elisabeth Hirvonen?

Miss Hildur Elisabeth Hirvonen, affectionately known as Hildy, was a remarkable Finnish Titanic survivor who, at the tender age of 2 (two), endured one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history. Born on February 15, 1910, in Dalsbruk, Finland, Hildur’s life was shaped by her extraordinary experience aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic and her subsequent journey as an immigrant in America.

Early Life and Family

A Child of Two Worlds

Hildur was born into a world of transition. Her birthplace, Dalsbruk (Taalintehdas in Finnish), was part of the Grand Duchy of Finland, an autonomous state within the Russian Empire. This unique political situation foreshadowed the international journey that lay ahead for young Hildur.

Family Roots

Hildur’s parents were:

Father: Erik Aleksanteri (Eric Alexander) Hirvonen (born 1886)
Mother: Helga Elisabeth Lindqvist (born 1890)

Both her parents hailed from Finnish towns - her father from Dalsbruk and her mother from Salo. This Finnish heritage would play a significant role in Hildur’s life, even as she embarked on a journey to a new land.

The Journey to America

A Father’s Dream

In late 1911, Erik Hirvonen set out to pave the way for his family’s future. He boarded the Lusitania, arriving in New York on November 3, 1911. His destination? Monessen, Pennsylvania, where he stayed with a friend on Motheral Avenue. Erik’s determination led him to secure a position as a tin worker, saving diligently to reunite with his wife and child.

Boarding the Titanic

Little did Hildur and her mother know that their journey to join Erik would become a part of history. In April 1912, they boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton as third-class passengers. Their ticket, number 3101298, cost £12, 5s, 9d - a significant sum for a working-class family of the time.

Titanic Travel Companions

Hildur wasn’t alone on this momentous journey. She traveled with:

Her mother, Helga Elisabeth Lindqvist Hirvonen
Her maternal uncle, Eino Lindqvist
A fellow Finn, August Abrahamsson

During the voyage, their group befriended other Finnish passengers, including:

Eirikk Jussila
The newlyweds Pekka and Elin Hakkarainen
The Panula family

The Night of the Sinking

A Child’s Survival

On that fateful night of April 14-15, 1912, as the Titanic struck an iceberg and began its descent into the frigid Atlantic, Hildur’s uncle Eino Lindqvist took quick action. He managed to place his sister and young niece into a lifeboat, believed to be lifeboat 15. This swift decision saved the lives of 2-year-old Hildur and her mother, making them among the fortunate survivors of the tragedy.

Reunion and Recovery

A Father’s Frantic Search

Erik Hirvonen, working as a screw boy at the American Sheet and Tinplate plant in Monessen, received startling news on April 19, 1912. The Daily Independent reported that his wife and baby daughter were among the Titanic survivors, recuperating in a New York hospital. Unaware that they had been aboard the ill-fated ship, Erik immediately rushed to New York to find his family.

Life After the Titanic

Early Years in America

Following their harrowing experience, Hildur and her mother reunited with Erik in Monessen, Pennsylvania. The family spent two years there before briefly returning to Finland in April 1914. In 1915, they settled permanently in Syracuse, New York, where Erik found employment with the Holcomb Steel Company.

Education and Growth

Hildur’s survival of the Titanic was just the beginning of her remarkable life. She went on to:

Graduate from Porter Junior High in Syracuse
Attend the Central City Business Institute

A Glimpse of Hildur

In the 1920s, during another visit to Finland, Hildur was described as:

Height: 5’ 5"
Complexion: Fair
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Blue

This description paints a vivid picture of the young woman who had survived such an extraordinary event as a toddler.

Later Life and Legacy

A Quiet Life

Hildur never married, choosing instead to remain close to her parents. In 1936, the family moved to a farm in Victory, Cayuga, New York, where Hildur would spend the last two decades of her life.

Final Days

After a brief battle with cancer, Hildur Elisabeth Hirvonen passed away on April 12, 1956, at the age of 46 (forty-six). She was laid to rest in Union Hill Cemetery in Cato, New York, survived by her parents and numerous extended family members.

Her mother joined her in 1961, followed by her father in 1964. The family now rests together, their remarkable story of survival and perseverance etched in the annals of Titanic history.

Hildur Elisabeth Hirvonen’s life, from her miraculous survival as a toddler on the Titanic to her quiet later years in rural New York, serves as a poignant reminder of the human stories behind one of history’s most famous disasters. Her journey from the icy waters of the North Atlantic to the farmlands of America encapsulates the immigrant experience and the resilience of those who survived the Titanic’s tragic maiden voyage.