Miss Laura Mabel Francatelli

Who was Laura Mabel Francatelli?

Laura Mabel Francatelli was a 31 (thirty-one) year-old English first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born on April 21, 1880, in Lambeth, London, she worked as a secretary for the renowned couturiere Lady Duff-Gordon. Francatelli survived the tragic sinking of the Titanic and lived a long life, passing away at the age of 87 (eighty-seven) on June 2, 1967.

Early Life and Background

What was Laura Mabel Francatelli’s family history?

Laura Mabel Francatelli came from a family with an interesting culinary background:

Her father, Charles Elmé Francatelli, was a cuisiniere (cook)
Her grandfather was also a cook
She was believed to be the great-great-niece of a famous Italian/British chef who served as maitre de hotel and chef to Queen Victoria and later to Edward, Prince of Wales

Born into a large family, Laura was one of eight children. Her siblings included:

Charles Elmé (1875-1876)
Eliza Edith Florence (1876-1878)
Jessie Maud (b. 1878)
Ethel Louise (1882-1888)
Violet Elizabeth (1883-1949)
Amy Sophia (1886-1963)
Charles Elmé William (1889-1942)
Dorothy Hilda (b. 1892)

How did Laura’s early life shape her career?

Laura’s early life was marked by frequent moves within London. The family lived in various locations including:

35 Holland Street, Lambeth (1881)
66 Hackford Road, Lambeth (1891)
38 Strathleven Road, Brixton (1901)
46 Hayter Road, Brixton (1906)
20 Dulwich Road, Herne Hill (1911)

By 1911, Laura was working as a secretary, which eventually led her to a position with Lucy Christiana, Lady Duff Gordon, a prominent fashion designer. This job would ultimately bring her aboard the Titanic.

Titanic Journey

What were the details of Laura’s Titanic voyage?

Laura Mabel Francatelli boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as a first-class passenger. Her journey details were as follows:

Detail	Information
Ticket Number	PC 17485
Cabin	E-36
Fare	£56 18s

Laura was traveling with her employers, Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon and Lady Duff-Gordon. Lady Duff-Gordon affectionately referred to Laura as “Franks.”

The Night of the Disaster

How did Laura experience the sinking of the Titanic?

On the night of April 14, 1912, Laura awoke to water seeping into her cabin following the Titanic’s collision with an iceberg. She recounted the events of that night:

A man came to me and put a life preserver on me assuring me it was only taking precautions and not to be alarmed… When we got on the top deck, the lifeboats were being lowered on the starboard side… I then noticed that the sea was nearer to us than during the day, and I said to Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon ‘We are sinking’ and he said ‘Nonsense, come away’.

Laura, along with the Duff-Gordons, was rescued in Emergency Lifeboat 1, which later became known in the press as the “millionaires boat.” This lifeboat was notably under-filled, carrying only 12 people despite having a capacity for 40.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic disaster impact Laura’s life?

Following the disaster, Laura’s life took several significant turns:

Marriage: On August 16, 1913, she married Maximilian “Max” Alfred Haering, a Swiss-born hotel manager.
Move to the United States: In July 1916, Laura migrated to the USA aboard the Philadelphia, settling in Manhattan.
Career: Laura dabbled in dress-making and later worked as her husband’s secretary in their hotel businesses.
Citizenship: The Haerings became naturalized US citizens, with Laura relinquishing her British citizenship on April 17, 1933.

What was Laura’s life like in her later years?

In her later years, Laura and her husband:

Operated several hotels, including the Gotham Hotel in New York
Acquired the Amber Lantern in Flushing, Queens, in 1941
Made numerous trips back and forth across the Atlantic

After her husband’s death in 1951, Laura made her final voyage across the Atlantic in 1954, arriving in Southampton on September 27 aboard the Queen Mary. She spent the remainder of her life in London.

Laura’s Legacy

Laura Mabel Francatelli’s story provides a unique perspective on the Titanic disaster from the viewpoint of a first-class passenger and survivor. Her account of the night’s events, along with her connection to the controversial “millionaires boat,” continues to intrigue Titanic historians and enthusiasts.

Her long life, spanning from the Victorian era to the Space Age, serves as a testament to the resilience of Titanic survivors. Laura’s ashes now rest alongside her husband’s in Ferncliff Cemetery and Mausoleum in Hartsdale, New York, a final journey across the Atlantic for this remarkable Titanic survivor.