Mrs Maija Emelia Abrahamintytar Panula

Who was Maija Emelia Abrahamintytar Panula?

Maija Emelia Abrahamintytar Panula was a 41 (forty-one) year-old Finnish passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on December 1, 1870, she was traveling with her five children in third-class accommodation when the ship struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912. Tragically, neither Maija nor any of her children survived the disaster.

Early Life and Background

Finnish Roots and Family

Maija was born in Finland to Susanna Maria Taavettintytar Norrkiilunen and Aaprahami Aaprahaminpoika (Abraham) Ojala Ketola. She grew up with five siblings:

• Liisa
• Anna
• Juho Heikki
• Emma
• Sanna Kaisa
• Aaprahami Ojala Ketola

On February 14, 1892, Maija married Juha (John) Juhonpoika Panula. Together, they had eight children, though tragically, three did not survive childhood:

1. Juho Eemeli (October 23, 1892 - December 23, 1892)
2. Ernesti Arvid (born May 18, 1895)
3. Jaakko Arnold (born February 8, 1897)
4. Emma Iita (February 24, 1901 - April 8, 1910)
5. Lyytia (June 17, 1902 - December 23, 1902)
6. Juha Niilo (born September 1, 1904)
7. Urho Aaprhami (born April 25, 1909)
8. Eino Viljami (born March 11, 1911)

First Journey to America

In 1893, Maija first traveled to America, changing her name to Maria Emelia Panula. She settled in Michigan but returned to Ylihärmä, Western Finland, in 1910.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Preparations for a New Life

In February 1912, the Panula family decided to emigrate to America permanently. Maija sold their farm to her brother-in-law for 6,500 Finnish Marks (approximately $1,243 or £256). She carried most of this money with her, along with an additional 400 Finnish Marks in cash.

Ticket and Travel Details

• Embarkation Point: Southampton
• Ticket Number: 3101295
• Fare: £9 13s
• Class: Third Class

Maija paid 163 Finnish Marks for the tickets, which included train travel to Coal Centre, Pittsburgh, where her husband was living.

Traveling Companions

Maija boarded the Titanic with her five surviving children:

1. Ernesti Arvid Panula
2. Jaako Arnold Panula
3. Juha Niilo Panula
4. Urho Abraham Panula
5. Eino Viljam Panula

Accompanying them was their neighbor’s daughter, Susanna Juhantytar Riihivuori, who was possibly going to become their maid in America.

What Happened on the Night of the Disaster?

On the night of April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg, leading to one of the deadliest maritime disasters in modern history. The Panula family’s experience was harrowing:

• Ernesti and Jaakko, being unmarried men, were berthed towards the bow of the ship.
• Maija and her three younger sons shared a cabin in the stern with Anna Turja.
• According to Turja’s account, one of the older Panula boys came from the bow to wake them, warning that the ship was sinking.

“She was crying and said that one of her children had drowned back in Finland and should they now drown all here?” - Anna Turja, recounting her last encounter with Maija Panula on the Titanic’s deck

In the confusion that followed, Maija lost some of her boys. Witnesses last saw her on deck, distraught and overwhelmed by the unfolding tragedy.

The Aftermath and Legacy

Confirmation and Compensation

• Juha Panula waited a week for confirmation that his family had been on the Titanic.
• He received the devastating news on April 21, 1912, at his home in Coal Center.
• The Mansion House Fund paid £50 to Juha and £50 to Maria’s mother.
• An additional 2,527.07 Finnish Marks (about £100) was paid as compensation for the loss of the entire family.

Dispute over Compensation

A disagreement arose over the distribution of the compensation:

• Juha Panula protested, claiming he had paid for all the tickets.
• Maria’s mother had declined a legacy but not compensation.
• Despite the protest, documents showed that £100 was to be shared equally between Juha and Maria’s mother.

Final Thoughts

The story of Maija Emelia Abrahamintytar Panula and her children is a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. Their journey, which began with hopes for a new life in America, ended tragically in the cold waters of the North Atlantic. Today, they are remembered as part of the larger group of third-class victims whose lives were cut short on that fateful night in April 1912.