Lula (Thorne) Opie
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Maria Louisa (Thorne) Opie (1878 - 1970)

Maria Louisa (Lula) Opie formerly Thorne aka Drew, Christian
Born in Greenport, Long Island, New York, USAmap
Wife of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Wife of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
[children unknown]
Died at age 92 in Westerly, Rhode Island, USAmap
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Profile last modified | Created 11 Jun 2014
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The RMS Titanic.
Lula (Thorne) Opie was a passenger on the RMS Titanic.
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Contents

Biography

Titanic Passenger and Crew Summary: Name: Mrs Lulu Thorne Drew (née Christian)- Titanic Survivor

Born: Tuesday 19th March 1878 Age: 34 years (Female) Married to: James Vivian Last Residence: in Greenport United States 2nd Class Passengers First Embarked: Southampton on Wednesday 10th April 1912 Ticket No. 28220 , £32 10s Destination: Greenport United States Rescued (boat 10) Disembarked Carpathia: New York City on Thursday 18th April 1912 Died: Tuesday 2nd June 1970 Cause of Death: Pulmonary Oedema (Dropsy)

Biography

Mrs James Vivian Drew (Lulu Thorne Christian) was born on 19 March 1878 probably in Greenport, County of Suffolk, New York State. She is the daughter of Henry Christian and Maria Fisher.

She married James Vivian Drew, originally of Constantine, Cornwall who had emigrated to America in 1896 along with his brother, William. They lived in Greenport, NY where her husband and brother-in-law had a successful marble monumental business.

Lulu, her husband and nephew, Marshall Drew had travelled on the Olympic to Cornwall in late 1911 to visit her husband's relatives. For their return journey they travelled on Titanic, boarding at Southampton as second class passengers. Their cabin was next door to that of Mrs Emily Richards of Newlyn, Cornwall.

Lulu and Marshall survived the sinking in lifeboat 10. Both Lulu and her nephew were met in New York by her brother-in-law, William Drew who had been anxiously waiting for them for 3 days.

Lulu was appointed executrix of James Drew on 8 February 1913 and 2 days later presented her written claim against the Steamship Titanic and the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company Ltd. The claim comprised $50,000 for the loss of her husband and $565 for the loss of property and passage money.

She later commented that "I have never forgotten the sound of the screaming as the ship slid under, and I still occasionally have nightmares about the people going down."

Mrs Lulu Drew married Mr Richard Opie (7 January 1885-February 1970) in 1914, and they settled in Westerly, Rhode Island in 1925. Lulu died on 2 June 1970 and was buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Ashaway, Rhode Island, USA. Her sister Fannie died in 1973 in the Bronx. (Courtesy of Michael A. Findlay, USA)

Census

"United States Census, 1880,"[1]

Henry P Christian Self Male 40 New York, United States
Maria L Christian Wife Female 31 New York, United States
Lillian A Christian Daughter Female 9 New York, United States
Jennie C Christian Daughter Female 7 New York, United States
Harry D Christian Son Male 3 New York, United States
Maria L Christian Daughter Female 2 New York, United States
Thos F Christian Son Male 0 New York, United States

"United States Census, 1930,"[2]

Richard Opie Head Male 45 Rhode Island
Lulu T Opie Wife Female 52 New York
Gerald B Horton Nephew Male 16 New York


References and Sources:

  • Providence Journal, 4 June 1970,

R.I. Woman, Survivor of Titanic, Dies at 92

  • Rhode Island Department of Health Certificate of Death

Credits: Stephen Coombes, UK Chris Dohany, USA Phillip Gowan, USA Brian Ticehurst, UK Geoff Whitfield, UK Buried: Oak Grove Cemetery, Hopkinton Rhode, Island, USA Travelling Companions (on same ticket):

  • James Vivian Drew
  • Master Marshall Brines Drew (Nephew and Adopted Son)

Parents:

  • Henry Paul and Louise (Fisher) Christian

Sources

  1. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZN9-4W7 : 20 August 2017), Maria L Christian in household of Henry P Christian, Greenport, Suffolk, New York, United States; citing enumeration district ED 330, sheet 528C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,935.
  2. "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XM88-36J : accessed 31 August 2019), Richard Opie, Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 20, sheet 1A, line 4, family 3, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2182; FHL microfilm 2,341,916.




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