- Irene Corbett, Utah's only known Titanic passenger, was honored in an exhibit.
- Her granddaughter, Irene Corbett Bergstedt, shared her story of courage and sacrifice.
- Corbett's legacy as a pioneering nurse-midwife was highlighted in "Titanic: The Exhibition."
SANDY — More than a century after the Titanic sank, Irene Corbett's namesake shares her family's story, now featured inside the traveling Titanic exhibition in Utah.
Irene Corbett was the only known Titanic passenger from Utah.
"My name is Irene Corbett Bergstedt, and I was named after my grandmother, Irene Corbett, who was a passenger on the Titanic," Bergstedt said.
Irene Corbett was a wife, a young mother of three and a teacher from Provo.
Her family said she was determined to become a nurse-midwife, a bold decision in the early 1900s.
She traveled to London to study, hoping to return home better equipped to serve women and families in her community.
"She was a heroine, a pioneer ahead of her time, seeking to uplift and better those in her community she loved deeply," her granddaughter said.
Bergstedt said that choice came with sacrifice. Irene left her three young children with family, including a son who was just a toddler at the time.
"My father was only 18 months old, I did not walk in her shoes, nor do I understand her full story," she said.
After finishing her schooling, Irene booked the first passage home she could, boarding the Titanic as a second-class passenger.
"She attempted an early return on board the Titanic so she might see her family sooner. Tragically, she was one of those who didn't survive," Bergstedt said.
Now her story is part of "Titanic: The Exhibition," which was in Sandy for six months and recently ended.
"Everywhere we bring this exhibition, there seems to be a local connection. Whether it was a passenger aboard the Titanic or a family member or some friend or relationship," Mark Lach, creative producer of the exhibit, said. "To have Irene here at the exhibition now, to feature her in the exhibition, is something very special."
For the first time, visitors could see and hear Irene's granddaughter inside the exhibit, bringing a living voice to a century-old story.
For her family, the legacy is still unfolding.
"Our lives will depend upon the decisions that we make, for decisions determine destiny," Bergstedt said.
