Miss Stina Viola Pålsson was a young Swedish passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on June 19, 1908, she was just 3 (three) years old when she embarked on what would tragically become her final journey.
Early Life and Family Background
Stina Viola Pålsson was born in Sweden to Nils Pålsson and his wife. She was one of four siblings, including:
The Pålsson family hailed from Bjuv, a small town in southern Sweden. In 1910, Stina’s father, Nils, made the decision to emigrate to the United States in search of better opportunities for his family.
The Pålsson Family’s Titanic Journey
Why were the Pålssons on the Titanic?
Two years after Nils Pålsson’s emigration to America, the time had come for his family to join him. Stina, along with her mother Alma Cornelia Pålsson and her three siblings, embarked on the Titanic at Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912.
Their ultimate destination was Chicago, Illinois, where they planned to reunite with Nils and start their new life in America.
What were their travel arrangements?
The Pålsson family traveled as third-class passengers, reflecting the economic status of many European immigrants of the time. Their ticket, number 349909, cost £21 1s 6d (21 pounds, 1 shilling, and 6 pence).
The Tragic Fate of Stina Viola Pålsson
What happened to Stina during the Titanic disaster?
On the night of April 14-15, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, the Pålsson family found themselves in a desperate situation. Despite the “women and children first” policy for lifeboat boarding, Stina, her mother, and her siblings were unable to secure a place on a lifeboat.
The entire Pålsson family perished in the sinking of the Titanic, their dreams of a new life in America tragically cut short.
Was Stina’s body ever recovered?
Sadly, Stina’s body, if recovered, was never identified. The young girl, just 3 (three) years old, became one of the many victims of the Titanic disaster whose final resting place remains unknown.
Legacy and Remembrance
While Stina Viola Pålsson’s life was tragically short, her story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. She represents the many children who lost their lives in the sinking, and the families torn apart by the tragedy.
How is Stina remembered today?
Stina’s name is memorialized on:
The Titanic Memorial in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Various Titanic museums and exhibitions around the world
Online databases and resources dedicated to preserving the stories of Titanic passengers
Her story, along with those of her family members, continues to be told as part of the larger narrative of the Titanic tragedy, ensuring that even the youngest victims are not forgotten.
In the end, Stina Viola Pålsson’s brief life and untimely death serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of human life and the unpredictable nature of fate. Her story, intertwined with one of history’s most famous maritime disasters, continues to touch hearts and minds over a century later.
Andre Nolan is an avid Titanic historian and the creator of TitanicUniverse.com, a website dedicated to uncovering the untold stories and forgotten details behind the famous ocean liner.
With a lifelong passion for maritime history, Andre has spent over a decade researching the Titanic, from the personal lives of passengers and crew to the engineering marvels that made the ship an icon of its era.
When he's not immersed in Titanic lore, Andre enjoys connecting with fellow maritime history lovers, exploring historic ships and shipwrecks.