Survivor of R.M.S Titanic. Born in Joliette, Québec. In August 1882 she married James "Diamond Jim" Baxter, a diamond broker and banker. They had three children, Anthony William, 1883, Mary (Zette) Hélène, April, 1885 and Quigg Edmond, July, 1887. In 1892, James Baxter built what might be described as Canada's first shopping mall, putting 28 stores under a single roof in the Baxter Block on St. Lawrence Blvd. The family's reputation fell apart in 1900 when her husband was arrested, charged and convicted of embezzling $40,000 from his bank. He was jailed for five years, and died in 1905 shortly before his 66th birthday. Her husband had investments in France, Switzerland and Belgium. She sold the mansion and moved into a comfortable brownstone at a still respectable address, 33 St. Famille St., near the McGill University Campus. In 1911 she sold the Baxter Block and took her son and her married daughter 'Zette Douglas with her on another of her frequent excursions to Europe. They booked passage home on one of Titanic's most expensive suites, B 58/60. Before boarding Titanic they stayed at the Elysee Palace Hotel; Paris. They boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg. Helene was ill with nausea during most of the voyage, and found the throb of the engines relaxing. When the ship stopped in mid-ocean, she had an anxiety attack. Her son, Quigg, carried her up the Grand Staircase and put her and his sister into lifeboat 6. As he kissed them goodbye it is stated he gave his mother a sterling silver brandy flask so she might keep warm on the open ocean, and she berated him for his drinking. The lifeboat was safely rescued by Carpathia on the morning of April 15. Her son Quigg went down with the ship. After the disaster, she returned to Montreal and never recovered from the effects. She died in her apartment at the age of 61.
Survivor of R.M.S Titanic. Born in Joliette, Québec. In August 1882 she married James "Diamond Jim" Baxter, a diamond broker and banker. They had three children, Anthony William, 1883, Mary (Zette) Hélène, April, 1885 and Quigg Edmond, July, 1887. In 1892, James Baxter built what might be described as Canada's first shopping mall, putting 28 stores under a single roof in the Baxter Block on St. Lawrence Blvd. The family's reputation fell apart in 1900 when her husband was arrested, charged and convicted of embezzling $40,000 from his bank. He was jailed for five years, and died in 1905 shortly before his 66th birthday. Her husband had investments in France, Switzerland and Belgium. She sold the mansion and moved into a comfortable brownstone at a still respectable address, 33 St. Famille St., near the McGill University Campus. In 1911 she sold the Baxter Block and took her son and her married daughter 'Zette Douglas with her on another of her frequent excursions to Europe. They booked passage home on one of Titanic's most expensive suites, B 58/60. Before boarding Titanic they stayed at the Elysee Palace Hotel; Paris. They boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg. Helene was ill with nausea during most of the voyage, and found the throb of the engines relaxing. When the ship stopped in mid-ocean, she had an anxiety attack. Her son, Quigg, carried her up the Grand Staircase and put her and his sister into lifeboat 6. As he kissed them goodbye it is stated he gave his mother a sterling silver brandy flask so she might keep warm on the open ocean, and she berated him for his drinking. The lifeboat was safely rescued by Carpathia on the morning of April 15. Her son Quigg went down with the ship. After the disaster, she returned to Montreal and never recovered from the effects. She died in her apartment at the age of 61.
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Bio by: Shock