Encyclopedia Titanica

Helena Wilhelmina Rosblom

Third Class Passenger

Helena Wilhelmina Rosblom (née Raula) was born 22 April 1870 in Ylikeeri, near Raumo, Finland, to Gustaf Lovisasson, a farmer b. 17 November 1828 at Lappi, Åbo, and Ulrika Wilhelmina (nee Gabrielsdotter/Gabrielintytär; b. 1 May 1835 at Laitila) Raula.

Her mother had been working as a maid prior to her marriage, which took place 21 December 1862.

Helena's known brothers and sisters included Gustaf Reinhold, b. 12 July 1863, and Karl Wiktor, b. 14 March 1865.

She was married to Viktor Rosblom (b. 8 January 1871) and had three surviving children: Viktor Rikard (b. 1894), Eino Wilhelm, (b. 2 February 1900) and Salli Helena (b. 1910).1 The family lived in Raumo, Åbo och Björneborgs County, Finland.

By 1912 her husband Viktor had already spent time in the USA, arriving in New York on 5 February 1905 aboard the Oceanic and he spent around three years there before returning to Finland. He left Finland again, this time arriving in New York aboard the Adriatic on 31 March 1910.  From there he settled in Seaside, Clatsop County, Oregon.

Mrs Rosblom decided to join her husband in Oregon and left Finland on 23 March 1912 with her son Viktor and her daughter Salli. She encountered resistance from her middle child Eino who did not wish to leave, fearing he was to "go with them to drown," so he remained behind in Finland. 

Originally scheduled to travel aboard Olympic, upon arrival in Southampton her daughter Salli became ill and their departure was postponed. They eventually boarded Titanic on 10 April 1912 as third class passengers (ticket number 370129 which cost £20, 4s, 3d).

Mrs Rosblom, along with her two children, all died in the sinking and their bodies, if recovered, were never identified. Her husband had been unaware that they had been travelling aboard Titanic and it was only weeks later that he discovered the truth.  He later received £100 in compensation.

Almost two years after the sinking Mrs Rosblom's only surviving child Eino finally braved the ocean and crossed on the Cedric, arriving in New York on 22 March 1914. He was reunited with his father in Seaside, Oregon where they would spend the rest of their lives, assimilating by Anglicising their surname to "Ross."

Viktor Rosblom never remarried and lived with his son until his death on 22 February 1933 aged 62.

Eino, following the death of his father, later co-habited with a lady named Hilma Hannelius (b. 1889), also from Finland, although it is not clear if they were ever married. Eino died in 1963 aged 63.

Notes

  1. There was apparently a fourth child in the family; Marta Vilhelmina, b. 7 March 1903 at Simula, Raumo, but what happened to her is unknown.

Bibliography

Claes-Göran Wetterholm (1988) Titanic, Prisma, Stockholm. ISBN 91 518 3644 0
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Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Mrs Helena Wilhelmina Rosblom
Age: 41 years 11 months and 23 days (Female)
Nationality: Finnish
Marital Status: Married to Viktor Rosblom
Last Residence: in Kolla, Finland
Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912
Ticket No. 370129, £20 4s 3d
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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