Ilmari Rudolf Alhomäki

Who was Mr Ilmari Rudolf Alhomäki?

Mr Ilmari Rudolf Alhomäki was a 19-year-old Finnish laborer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in 1893, he was embarking on a journey to join his brother in America when fate intervened on that fateful night of April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

Ilmari Rudolf Alhomäki was born on March 12, 1893, in Uskela, near Salo, Finland. He was the son of Gustav Tilander and Edla Karolina Alhomäki (née Strömvik). Interestingly, the origin of Ilmari’s surname, Alhomäki, remains unclear, as his father bore a different surname.

Siblings and Family Structure

Ilmari came from a large family, with several siblings:

• August Aleksander (born September 12, 1879)
• Tekla Dagmar (born November 29, 1881)
• Artur Alarik (born February 8, 1884)
• Berta Karolina (born August 24, 1886)
• Aina Sigrid (born November 23, 1888)

The American Dream: A Brother’s Success

Arthur’s Journey to America

Ilmari’s older brother, Arthur Aldrich (born 1884), had already paved the way for the family’s American dream. In 1909, Arthur embarked on a journey that would change the course of their lives:

1. Emigrated to Canada aboard the Empress of Britain
2. Crossed into the United States in 1910
3. Initially worked in boarding houses
4. Established the Finnish Home Bakery on Duane Street in Astoria, Oregon

This successful venture became the catalyst for Ilmari’s own journey across the Atlantic.

Ilmari’s Fateful Voyage

Why was Ilmari traveling on the Titanic?

Ilmari’s primary goal was to join his brother Arthur in Astoria, Oregon, and become part of the family’s burgeoning bakery business. This dream of a new life in America led him to book passage on the ill-fated RMS Titanic.

Titanic Journey Details

• Embarkation Point: Southampton
• Ticket Number: 3101287
• Ticket Cost: £7, 18s, 6d
• Class: 3rd Class
• Total Journey Cost: 561 Finnish Marks (£22, 2s), including train fare to Astoria, Oregon

The Tragedy and Its Aftermath

Sadly, Ilmari Alhomäki did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. At just 19 (nineteen) years old, his promising life was cut short. His body, if recovered, was never identified, leaving his family without closure.

Financial Assistance

In the wake of the tragedy, Ilmari’s relatives received £50 in assistance from a relief fund, a small consolation for their immense loss.

Legacy: The Alhomäki-Tilander Family in America

While Ilmari’s life was tragically short, his family’s legacy in America continued through his brother Arthur:

• Arthur adopted the name Arthur Tilander in America
• Married Elizabeth Pudas, another Finnish immigrant, in 1913
• Raised two children: Helen and Arthur Herbert
• Continued running the Finnish Home Bakery in Astoria
• The bakery remains in family hands today, though at a different location

Arthur Tilander passed away on April 28, 1940, having lived the American dream that his younger brother Ilmari had also aspired to achieve.

A Poignant Reminder

Ilmari Rudolf Alhomäki’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives full of potential that were lost in the Titanic disaster. His journey, cut short by tragedy, represents the hopes and dreams of countless immigrants seeking a better life across the Atlantic, forever intertwined with one of history’s most famous maritime disasters.