Mrs Marie Marthe Jerwan

Marie Marthe Jerwan was a 23 (twenty-three) year-old Swiss woman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born on May 28, 1888, in Mont-de-Couvet, Switzerland, Marie’s life would be forever changed by her experience aboard the ill-fated ship.

Early Life and Background

Marie Marthe Thuillard, as she was born, came from a Swiss family. Her parents were Jean-Pierre Thuillard and Marie Anna Von Niederhausern. In early 1906, at the age of 17 (seventeen), Marie left her homeland for new opportunities, departing from Le Havre, France aboard La Savoie and arriving in New York on February 10, 1906.

How did Marie meet her husband?

Marie’s life took a significant turn when she met Amin Saliba Jerwan, a native of Beirut, Lebanon. The couple had known each other since around 1908 and were married in Manhattan on July 7, 1910. Amin, who had immigrated to the USA in 1895, worked as a proofreader for Blanchard Press in Manhattan.

Titanic Journey

In early 1912, Marie returned to Switzerland to visit her relatives at Crêt-de-la-Mosse, a farmhouse at Mont-de-Couvet. Her return journey would become a part of history.

Why did Marie board the Titanic?

Originally planning to travel back on the Olympic, Marie changed her plans when that vessel returned to Harland & Wolff for repairs. Instead, she boarded the Titanic as a second-class passenger at Cherbourg. Her ticket, number SC/AH 541, cost £13 15s 10d.

Titanic Accommodations

• Cabin: D-Deck
• Cabin mate: Mrs Ada Elizabeth Balls, a widow from Bristol, England
• Acquaintances: René Lévy and Jean-Noël Malachard (French-speaking passengers in a nearby cabin)

The Night of the Disaster

On the fateful night of April 14, 1912, Marie was in her cabin reading at 10:30 pm when she felt a hard hit. Initially thinking the engines had exploded, she soon realized the gravity of the situation.

“Get up, dress, we sink!” - Marie Jerwan to Ada Balls

Marie’s actions during the sinking showcased her quick thinking and survival instinct:

1. Woke her cabin companion, Ada Balls
2. Packed essentials and dressed warmly
3. Met with Jean-Noël Malachard and René Lévy on B-Deck
4. Was accompanied to starboard A-deck and assisted into a lifeboat (possibly #11)

Survival and Aftermath

Marie survived the Titanic disaster, but her ordeal was far from over. Upon rescue by the Carpathia, she attempted to send a telegram to her husband, which unfortunately never reached him due to the operators’ workload.

What challenges did Marie face after the disaster?

1. Brief hospitalization at Sydenham Hospital in New York
2. Unsuccessful attempt to claim compensation for lost property (valued at $3,364.75)
3. Emotional trauma that led her to avoid discussing the Titanic for the rest of her life

Later Life

Following the disaster, Marie and Amin remained in New York, living at various addresses over the years. In 1923, Marie applied for a passport to visit Switzerland and France due to ill health, describing herself as 5'4" with an oval face, blue eyes, and chestnut hair.

How did Marie spend her final years?

Marie made another trip to Switzerland in the early 1960s, this time by plane. In her later years, she battled cancer and passed away on September 14, 1974, at the City Hospital in Elmhurst, Queens, New York. She was 86 (eighty-six) years old.

Marie Martha Jerwan was cremated on September 17, 1974, at Garden State crematory in North Bergen, New Jersey. The whereabouts of her remains are unknown, adding a final mystery to the life of this Titanic survivor.