Goldiana Morell, 76, also known as Georgina Morell, was a wealthy widow from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was a British citizen traveling aboard Lusitania with Ellen Chapman. One of Goldiana’s sons and grandsons were in the British forces, and one of her daughters was a Red Cross nurse at the front. Goldiana was the oldest woman passenger in saloon (first class). She and Ellen Chapman survived the Lusitania sinking. Goldiana was treated at the Queenstown hospital for shock and released after Tuesday 11 May 1915.
Life
Goldiana Ambler married Moses Morell. They emigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1860. She was the mother of eight children, Rose, Elgin, Sarah, Albert, Michael (also known as Maxmilian), Henry, Allan, and Esseay. Her daughter Sarah married Hyman Miller in Toronto on 4 November 1886 in a Jewish wedding. Her son Elgin was a member of the Queen’s Own Rifles. Moses predeceased Goldiana, and at the time of the Lusitania disaster, Goldiana was a wealthy widow.
Lusitania
Goldiana sailed aboard Lusitania with her friend Ellen Chapman. Goldiana’s ticket was 6924 and she was in cabin B-32. She was present at George Kessler‘s party on Thursday, 6 May.
When the torpedo struck Lusitania, Goldiana had been napping, as she usually did after lunch. Her maid awoke her, telling the widow that the ship was sinking and that there was no time to dress. As Goldiana sat up in bed, her maid tied a lifejacket over her nightgown.
“What are you doing?” Goldiana asked.
The maid only replied, “Quickly, dear, we must get to the lifeboats.”
Mrs. Morell survived the disaster, despite being the water for several hours. She recovered in a Queenstown hospital and was healthy enough to be released on Tuesday, 11 May 1915.
Contributors
Brian Ahern
Michael Poirier
Judith Tavares
References
Hickey, Des and Gus Smith. Seven Days to Disaster, pages 96, 150-1, 201, 260. G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1981.
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