She knows something about being rescued, for she and her husband were survivors of one of the worst maritime disasters in history ​ — the sinking of the luxury liner Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945.
او و همسرش از یکی از فاجعه‌آمیزترین مصیبت‌های دریایی نجات یافتند ،‏ از کشتی مجلل ویلهلم گوستلوف که در سال ۱۹۴۵ غرق شد .‏