Miss Mary Anne Perreault

Who was Mary Anne Perreault?

Miss Mary Anne Perreault was a 33 (thirty-three) year-old Canadian first-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on July 29, 1878, in Gaspé, Quebec, she worked as a personal maid for Mrs. Charles M. Hays and survived the tragic sinking of the ship on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Background

What was Mary Anne’s family like?

Mary Anne Perreault came from a large family in Gaspé, Quebec. Her parents were Joseph Perreault, a fisherman, and Marie Agnes Smith. She had four sisters:

• Celina
• Caroline
• Nora
• Menney

Tragically, Mary Anne’s mother passed away when she was young. Her father remarried Marie Fournier and had six more children:

• Arthur
• Joseph Jr.
• Theophil
• Sephrien
• Anastase
• Agnes

How did Mary Anne start her career?

Mary Anne began working as a maid for Mrs. Charles M. Hays, wife of the president of the Grand Trunk Railway. This position allowed her to travel extensively on business trips with the Hays family, broadening her horizons beyond her humble beginnings in Gaspé.

Titanic Journey

What brought Mary Anne to the Titanic?

In the spring of 1912, at the age of 34 (thirty-four), Mary Anne traveled to London with the Hays family. During their stay, Mr. Hays met with Sir Abe Bailey, a wealthy British investor financing a new business venture in Montreal. It was during this time that Mary Anne met and fell in love with Bert Pickett, Sir Abe Bailey’s chauffeur and mechanic.

How did Mary Anne board the Titanic?

On April 10, 1912, Mary Anne boarded the Titanic at Southampton. She traveled on the Hays’ ticket (No. 12749) and occupied room B-24 in first-class accommodations. Just before departure, Bert proposed to Mary Anne, and she accepted, looking forward to their future together in America.

The Fateful Night

How did Mary Anne survive the Titanic disaster?

When disaster struck at 11:40 pm on April 14, Mary Anne was one of the fortunate passengers to survive the ordeal. She escaped in lifeboat number 3, being one of the last to board and having to be pushed onto the boat.

“Annie was one of the lucky passengers who managed to survive the ordeal and escaped in lifeboat number 3. She was one of the last to get on this boat and had to be pushed on.”

As a first-class survivor, Mary Anne’s experience highlights the disparity in survival rates between different passenger classes on the Titanic.

Life After the Titanic

What happened to Mary Anne after the disaster?

Following her rescue by the RMS Carpathia, Mary Anne left Mrs. Hays’ employment. Her fiancé, Bert Pickett, arrived in New York later that year, and they married on December 9, 1912, in Trenton, New Jersey.

How did Mary Anne’s life unfold after her marriage?

Mary Anne’s life after the Titanic was marked by several significant events:

1. Multiple miscarriages before having her only son, Earnest, on January 10, 1919, at the age of 42 (forty-two)
2. Moving to Rodeo, California around 1928
3. Opening a ‘Mom and Pop’ roadside stand selling food and gasoline
4. Converting their business into a Standard Oil Company Service Station
5. Losing her husband Bert in 1960
6. Moving to San Pablo, California in her later years

What was Mary Anne’s legacy?

Mary Anne Perreault left behind a small but cherished family legacy:

• One son: Earnest (born January 10, 1919)
• One granddaughter: Julanna (born June 11, 1947)
• One great-grandson: Todd (born November 11, 1965)

Final Years

Mary Anne Perreault spent her final years in San Pablo, California. A devout Catholic, she attended Mass daily at St. Paul’s Catholic Church. She passed away on November 18, 1968, at the age of 90 (ninety), while residing at Church Lane Convalescent Hospital. Her final resting place is at St. Joseph’s Mausoleum in San Pablo, California.

Mary Anne Perreault’s life journey from a small fishing town in Quebec to surviving one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters and building a life in California is a testament to her resilience and adaptability in the face of extraordinary circumstances.