This is the true story about the author's grandmother's experience aboard the RMS Titanic that hit an iceberg and sank in 1912. It tells the story of Bertha Mulvihill Noon's family, her star-crossed voyage, and her miraculous escape into Lifeboat 15. The Epilogue cites the triumphs and tragedies of her life in Providence, Rhode Island, as a survivor of the ship's sinking.
Bertha was en route back to the U.S. after visiting family in her native Ireland. The story is documented from oral tradition, interviews of her by the hometown newspaper, and carefully researched articles about her and the ship itself.
She and her American fiancé got married in Providence four months after the tragedy. There is an extensive photo gallery of family from Ireland as well as her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren in America. Mark Petteruti, the author's brother, edited the text, provided numerous photos, and supplemented the story with salient details.
Bertha was one of four Rhode Island survivors of the RMS Titanic. Two were first-class passengers, including Madeleine Astor, the 18-year-old wife of Titanic victim John Jacob Astor IV, who was the richest man in America at the time. The Astors resided in Newport during the summer.
Bertha's experience on the ship has been previously documented by Titanic historians and through three interviews with reporters from the Providence Journal from 1912 to 1958, the year before she died.
This brave survivor had five children and suffered the loss of one in a tragic accident in front of the family home. In the end, her story was one of perseverance and of coming to grips with the trauma she suffered on the night of April 14th and during the early hours of April 15th, 1912.
This story is a personal one written by a grandson who knew her during the last twelve years of her life. He includes stories that were told by Bertha's children and shares his own personal recollections of his "Nana Noon."