Mansūr Ḥannā Al-Hāj

Mr Mansūr Ḥannā Al-Hāj (Mansour Hanna) was born in Kfar Mishkī, Lebanon around 1877. Details about his early life remain vague.

He worked as a farmer and had emigrated to Canada in 1899, settling in Ottawa but made at least two trips back to Lebanon prior to 1912. He was married in his native Lebanon to Nasmīyah Antūn and had two daughters, Fawzīyah (b. 1909) and Ramzīyah (b. 1911).

Ḥannā boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg as a third class passenger (ticket number 2693 which cost £7, 4s, 7d). He was travelling with several other natives of Kfar Mishkī on his return to Ottawa.

Ḥannā died in the sinking and his body was later recovered by the MacKay Bennett (#188). He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery on 10 May 1912.

© Bob Knuckle, Canada

His widow Nasmīyah was remarried, becoming Mrs Salīm Sa'ūd, and later emigrated with her new husband to Ontario, leaving her two daughters behind in Lebanon. What became of her is not certain.

His daughter Fawzīyah was later to become Mrs Sulāyman Rizq and she raised a family, spending the rest of her life in Kfar Mishkī. She often spoke about her father to local media before her death in 2000.

His daughter Ramzīyah was married to Elias Ayoub and had five children. Her husband later emigrated to Brazil where he worked but died after being stabbed in a violent robbery. What became of her is not known.