Miss Winnifred Vera Quick

Who was Winnifred Vera Quick?

Winnifred Vera Quick was a young second-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on January 23, 1904, in Plymouth, Devon, England, she was just 8 (eight) years old when she embarked on the tragic voyage. Winnifred’s story is one of survival, resilience, and a long life that spanned nearly a century.

Early Life and Background

Winnifred was born into a working-class family in Plymouth, England. Her father, Frederick Charles Quick, was a plasterer by trade. Along with her mother, Jane Quick, and sister, Phyllis May Quick, Winnifred was part of a family seeking new opportunities across the Atlantic.

• Family members:
  • Father: Frederick Charles Quick (Plasterer)
  • Mother: Jane Quick
  • Sister: Phyllis May Quick

What led the Quick family to America?

The Quick family had initially emigrated to Detroit, Michigan, around 1910, when Winnifred was about 6 (six) years old. This move was likely motivated by the promise of better economic opportunities in the rapidly growing industrial city of Detroit.

The Titanic Journey

Why were the Quicks returning to England?

In early 1912, Winnifred, along with her mother and sister, returned to Plymouth for a visit to her mother’s family. This trip back to their roots would set the stage for their fateful journey on the Titanic.

Details of their Titanic booking:

The Quick family boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912, as second-class passengers. Their ticket number was 26360, and they paid £26 for their passage, a significant sum for a working-class family at the time.

The Night of the Disaster

How did Winnifred and her family survive the sinking?

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, Winnifred, her mother, and sister were among the fortunate passengers who managed to escape the doomed ship. They were rescued in lifeboat 11, which was one of the last lifeboats to be launched from the starboard side of the ship.

The experience of being lowered into the dark, freezing Atlantic in a small lifeboat must have been terrifying for the 8-year-old Winnifred.

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic disaster impact Winnifred’s life?

The trauma of the Titanic disaster had a profound impact on young Winnifred’s life. After arriving in New York and eventually making their way back to Detroit, Winnifred’s education was cut short.

• Dropped out of school at a young age
• Began working in a chocolate factory
• Later worked in a bakery

A Fateful Meeting

At the age of 14, Winnifred met Alois Van Tongerloo, who was born on April 24, 1899. Interestingly, Alois was also an emigrant who had come to America in 1912, the same year as the Titanic disaster. This shared experience of migration may have helped forge a connection between them.

Family Life

Winnifred and Alois later married and built a life together in Detroit. Their family grew to include:

• 3 sons
• 2 daughters

Legacy and Long Life

Winnifred Van Tongerloo (née Quick) lived a remarkably long life, surviving well into the 21st century. She passed away on July 4, 2002, at the age of 98 (ninety-eight) years old. Her final resting place is at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit.

What made Winnifred’s life extraordinary?

Winnifred’s life spanned nearly a century, during which she witnessed immense historical changes. From surviving one of the most famous maritime disasters in history as a child to living through two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the dawn of the digital age, Winnifred’s life story is a testament to human resilience and adaptability.

As one of the last survivors of the Titanic, Winnifred Quick Van Tongerloo’s passing marked the end of an era, closing another chapter in the enduring story of the Titanic and its passengers.