Miss Roberta Elizabeth Mary Maioni

Who was Roberta Elizabeth Mary Maioni?

Roberta Elizabeth Mary Maioni, known as Cissy to friends and family, was a 20 (twenty) year-old English woman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on December 21, 1891, in Norwich, Norfolk, she worked as a personal maid to the Countess of Rothes and was traveling in first-class aboard the ill-fated ship.

Early Life and Background

What was Roberta’s family like?

Roberta came from a diverse background:

• Father: Louis Maioni (1857-1941), a hotel waiter from Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
• Mother: Jane Adelaide Rowland (1863-1941) from Acle, Norfolk
• Siblings:
  • Louis Alvera Robert (1889-1918)
  • Lucy Adela Carmen (1895-1976)
  • Muriel Nina Madeleine (1896-1991)

The family lived in various locations throughout Roberta’s childhood, including Norwich, London, and Surrey. By 1911, Roberta had begun her career in service, working as a domestic maid for Royal Navy Commander Edward Harvey in Kensington, London.

Titanic Journey

How did Roberta come to be on the Titanic?

Roberta boarded the Titanic as a first-class passenger at Southampton, accompanying her employer, Lucy Noël Martha, Countess of Rothes. They were joined by the Countess’ cousin, Gladys Cherry. Roberta’s ticket (number 110152) cost £86 10s, a substantial sum at the time.

What were Roberta’s experiences during the voyage?

During the voyage, Roberta:

• Witnessed the near-collision with the SS New York during departure
• Observed a large flock of seagulls following the ship, which some considered a bad omen
• Formed a connection with a young crewman who gifted her a “Titanic” badge or brooch
• Met an older man who expressed foreboding on the evening of April 14

“Miss we have struck an iceberg, but I don’t think there’s any danger. Should there be I’ll come back and let you know.” - A steward informing Roberta of the collision

The Fateful Night

How did Roberta survive the sinking?

On the night of April 14, 1912, Roberta was in bed when the Titanic struck the iceberg. After being alerted by a steward, she dressed, put on her lifejacket, and made her way to the deck. Roberta was rescued in lifeboat 8 alongside the Countess of Rothes and Gladys Cherry.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic disaster affect Roberta’s life?

Following her rescue, Roberta:

1. Stayed at the Plaza Hotel in New York City
2. Wrote a poem about her experience
3. Reunited with her family in Surrey, with her hair reportedly in tatters from rowing the lifeboat
4. Wrote a personal account of her experience for a short story competition in 1926

Did Roberta marry and have a family?

On May 24, 1919, Roberta married Cunliffe Lawrance Bolling in St Matthew’s Church, Brixton, London. The couple:

• Lived in the affluent Strawberry Hill area of Twickenham
• Had no children
• Were together until Cunliffe’s death on April 23, 1938

What became of Roberta in her later years?

In her later life, Roberta:

• Suffered from severe arthritis, which she attributed to exposure to cold during the sinking
• Spent her final days in The Limes nursing home in Ditchling, Sussex
• Passed away on January 17, 1963, at the age of 71 (seventy-one)
• Was cremated at the Downs Crematorium, Brighton, with her ashes scattered in the garden of remembrance

Roberta’s Legacy

What items from Roberta’s Titanic experience survived?

In February 1999, several items related to Roberta’s Titanic experience were auctioned in Devizes, Wiltshire:

• Her personal account of the disaster
• The “Titanic” badge or brooch given to her by the young crewman
• The poem she wrote in New York after the sinking

These artifacts provide a tangible connection to Roberta’s extraordinary experience and serve as a reminder of the human stories behind the Titanic tragedy.