While many people associate the Titanic’s tragic sinking with the forbidden love story of fictional characters Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt, many do not know about the true act of unconditional love shown by spouses Isidor and Ida Straus during their final hours aboard the ship.

It all began in 1871 when Ida, a German-American, met and married Isidor at just twenty-two years old.

Isidor was an accomplished twenty-six-year-old businessman who co-owned a Macy’s department store in the U.S.

Over the course of their life together, the pair welcomed seven children, celebrated their fortieth marriage anniversary, and were known to be inseparable.

Then, early in 1912, Ida and Isidor decided to winter in Europe. Come April of 1912, though, the Couple decided to sail back to the United States on the Titanic with a new maid named Ellen Bird and Isidor’s servant John Farthing.

The Straus’ had usually traveled the world on German vessels, but, like much of the world, they were mesmerized by the Titanic’s groundbreaking size and luxury appeal.

So, the pair set foot on the ship and experienced a lovely voyage until tragedy struck on April 14.

That evening, the Titanic hit the fatal iceberg and began to sink. But, the ship was equipped with just sixteen boats, which could accommodate only about one thousand and two hundred people– half of the passengers and crew on board.

Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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Nonetheless, Ida was directed to lifeboat eight, and Isidor was offered a seat next to her.

But, she and Isidor quickly learned that men were being forced to stay behind, and the couple was only allowed to stay together because they were of the “elite class.”

Isidor became outraged and refused to take the seat just based on class.

“I will not go before the other men,” he reportedly said.

Then, Ida followed suit and refused to board. She instead insisted that her maid, Ellen, go on the lifeboat and take her fur coat.

“As we have lived, so we will die together,” Ida reportedly said to her husband, Isidor, while they remained on the ship.

And as the sixteen lifeboats rowed away from the tragedy, eyewitnesses last saw Ida and Isidor sitting on the deck and holding each other in their arms.

Sadly, they both passed away when the ship finally sank, and Isidor’s remains were later recovered. Unfortunately, though, Ida’s body was never found.

Nonetheless, witnesses and those who knew the couple regarded their decision as one of the most remarkable acts of devotion and love a couple could ever exhibit.

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