Hi! I’m Debbie Dadey.
Kids here is your chance to write to Debbie where Debbie and everyone else can read it!
Submit your comment below. Inappropriate language will be deleted or blocked. She will answer you on “Debbie Talks.”
Questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions about our books, purchasing options, and additional resources.
Still have questions?
Contact us for further assistance.
Subscribe
By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy
Subscribe
By subscribing you agree to our Privacy Policy
“Hi Ms. Dadey! I read Mermaid Tales a lot when I was younger, and seeing my younger sis start reading it brought back memories. I remembered that I started loving the ocean when I started reading your books. Thank you Debbie Dadey!”
“Oh, it definitely will be. 2021 has been etched into my brain.”
“Hi!Ever since I got the 4 in 1 Mermaid Tales book,I’ve always enjoyed reading them.They also help me to get away from life and dive inside a book for awhile.Mermaid Tales rocks!!”
“I’m so happy you replied, I learned about Ruth from the Internet. Google or YouTube search Ruth Becker Blanchard and lots of interviews and articles will show up! Anyway onto our next survivor, #19 Michael Joseph Early life Michael Peter Joseph was born May 11, 1907 in Detroit, Michigan, USA to Lebanese immigrants, Peter (born 1883) and Kathryn Rizq (born 1886) Joseph. In 1909, he gained a sister, Mary. Kathryn and her two children went back to Lebanon around 1911 to visit relatives. Titanic For their return to the US, the Josephs took a train to Cherbourg, France where they boarded the Titanic as third-class passengers. Kathryn was 23, Michael was four, and Mary was 2 years old. The family was asleep at the time of the collision, but Kathryn was woken up by the impact. After hearing the commotion outside, she woke up her two children and got them dressed. She carried Mary in her arms while Michael held onto her skirt. When they got to the boat deck, Kathryn and Mary were separated from Michael amidst the chaos. Kathryn and Mary escaped in a lifeboat, and an unknown man picked up Michael and threw him in a lifeboat. All three of the Josephs were picked up by the Carpathia the next morning where they reunited. There the kids contracted measles, and upon arrival in New York they were hospitalized before leaving on a train for Detroit. Tragic Post Titanic life In Michigan, they lived in an apartment above a grocers, On March 22, 1914 Katherine, her husband Peter, and Michael went to church, leaving their four-year-old daughter Mary alone, asleep in her crib. Michael Tonie, the grocer who lived directly below the Joseph family, heard the screams of a child and rushed up to the apartment. Kicking open her bedroom door he was met with flames and spotted young Mary standing helpless in the middle of the room, her clothes alight. Mr Tonie, without regard for his own safety, beat the flames out with his bare hands and swept the child up and rushed her down to his grocery store where he telephoned for an ambulance; Mary was taken to St Mary’s Hospital. Her parents, upon returning from church, were met by a policemen who informed them of events and they hastened to the hospital. Mary died from her injuries later that day with her parents by her side. She was buried in Mt Olivet Cemetery in Detroit. In March 1915, Kathryn gave birth to another daughter, Sadie. However, Kathryn tragically died at the age of 26 in June of tuberculosis. Sadie tragically died in November when she was less than a year old. In 1926, Peter Joseph died of a heart condition. Michael was taken in by an uncle and aunt. Later life and death Michael married Catherine Rouhana, another Michigan native with Lebanese parents. They had four children. Michael became a truck driver. He lived in Detroit for the rest of his life, and because of his tragic childhood he was rather quiet and enjoyed nothing more than the company of his family. He never cared to discuss Titanic and only spoke of it to his grandchildren. Michael Joseph died on May 18, 1991, a week after his 84th birthday of a heart attack. His death left eighteen remaining survivors.”
“Hi Debbie! This is Emma, I love the book “Worst Name In Third Grade.” The second I finished it I knew I had to write to you. That book is now one of my favorite books! Happy New Year! “
“Hi Debbie! Happy new years, and happy belated holidays! I hope you’re doing well, and having a great time. Have a great day!”
“Another titanic story George Thomas Early life George Thomas was born February 9, 1904 in Tibnin, Lebanon. His parents were Darwish Thomas (1870) and Hannah Joseph Thomas (1885). He had an older sister, Miriam, born in 1902. Darwish left Lebanon in 1905 and settled in Spring Creek, Michigan. He eventually saved enough for his wife and kids to join him. Titanic George, his mother and sister took camels to the capital of Lebanon on the coast in February 1912. From there, they boarded a ship and sailed to Marseilles, France. From there, they took a train to Cherbourg, France where they boarded the Titanic as third-class passengers. Hannah was 27, Miriam was 9 and a half, and George was eight. Throughout the voyage, George recalled he and his sister would run around the ship and explore the vacant cabins. On the night of the sinking, Hannah put George to bed, but Miriam had not returned from exploring. Several men informed Hannah that the ship was in danger but that they had been instructed to stay in their cabins and pray. George’s mother hurriedly dressed him and they headed to the upper decks where she stood him near a lifeboat and told him not to move whilst she retreated back to her cabin in search of his missing sister who, thankfully, was located. Returning, Hannah found him in the same spot but very anxious as several people had tried to get him into a lifeboat without her. The family later left the ship, possibly in Lifeboat Collapsible C and whilst in the lifeboat George later related that the ship, in her final throes, stood out of the water before settling back and finally sinking which was followed by the grim sound of the cries of those struggling in the water. Upon reaching New York Jirjis, his mother and sister were taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for recuperation following which they headed to Dowagiac, Michigan. Although his father was aware that his family were coming to the USA, he had no idea that they were journeying on Titanic and was surprised when he received a telegram from his wife. George and his family settled in Dowagiac and he gained a further three siblings: Sam (1913-1997), Francis (1914-1965) and Joseph (1916-1995). He was married to a woman named Rose (b. circa 1910 in Indiana; d. 1997) in 1926 and the couple had three children: Emily (b. 1927, later Mrs Howard Stites), Joseph (1928-2008) and Beatrice (1933-2003, later Furqueron). The family continued to live with George’s parents for a number of years in Flint, Michigan. What became of his marriage to Rose is not clear and it seems they were later separated and divorced. George was remarried on 22 March 1936 to Dorothy Lucille Lane, née Pickett (b. 3 August 1916 in Terre Haute, Indiana) and they had a son, George (1936-2007), later in the year. Dorothy had previously been married to an English man, Roy Stanley Lane (b. 1913). George later ran a grocery store that he had purchased from his uncle Ilyās Rāzī and his father and brothers assisted him in the business which later expanded into a supermarket. He sold the store to his brothers in the 1940s and he purchased another smaller store before retiring from the grocery trade in 1948 and entering the real estate investment business from which he retired in 1970. In later years he was called upon frequently by local media to give his account of the sinking and he did so up until the end of his life. He recalled his awe of the ship and its splendour and how he and his sister would pass their days playing in vacant cabins and stairwells and how the sight of the sinking ship and the terrible cries that followed it never left him. In 1982, and despite being wheelchair-bound, he joined several other Titanic survivors at a convention of the Titanic Historical Society, of which he was a member, in Philadelphia. George Thomas continued to live in Burton, Flint, Michigan and was a member of the Davison Lodge #236, The Bay City Consistory and the Elf Khurafeh Shriners. His son George was Burton’s first mayor from 1972 to 1976. George was widowed when his wife Dorothy died on 31 October 1991. He himself did not live long past the death of his wife and he passed away on 9 December 1991 aged 87. He was buried in Crestwood Cemetery, Grand Blanc, Michigan.”
“Thank you for emailing me back!! I was very excited to hear from you! You are a great author and I look forward to reading more of your books! Your books made my Christmas list this year! Blessings! Brooklynn”
“Hello Debbie! I hope you have a very merry Christmas and make amazing memories! What do you have planned? Anyway, I wanted to ask you I started a new book series! I wanted to ask you, does writing involve any math? Please confirm. Thank you so much! “
“I’m so happy you replied, I learned about Ruth from the Internet. Google or YouTube search Ruth Becker Blanchard and lots of interviews and articles will show up! Anyway onto our next survivor, #19 Michael Joseph Early life Michael Peter Joseph was born May 11, 1907 in Detroit, Michigan, USA to Lebanese immigrants, Peter (born 1883) and Kathryn Rizq (born 1886) Joseph. In 1909, he gained a sister, Mary. Kathryn and her two children went back to Lebanon around 1911 to visit relatives. Titanic For their return to the US, the Josephs took a train to Cherbourg, France where they boarded the Titanic as third-class passengers. Kathryn was 23, Michael was four, and Mary was 2 years old. The family was asleep at the time of the collision, but Kathryn was woken up by the impact. After hearing the commotion outside, she woke up her two children and got them dressed. She carried Mary in her arms while Michael held onto her skirt. When they got to the boat deck, Kathryn and Mary were separated from Michael amidst the chaos. Kathryn and Mary escaped in a lifeboat, and an unknown man picked up Michael and threw him in a lifeboat. All three of the Josephs were picked up by the Carpathia the next morning where they reunited. There the kids contracted measles, and upon arrival in New York they were hospitalized before leaving on a train for Detroit. Tragic Post Titanic life In Michigan, they lived in an apartment above a grocers, On March 22, 1914 Katherine, her husband Peter, and Michael went to church, leaving their four-year-old daughter Mary alone, asleep in her crib. Michael Tonie, the grocer who lived directly below the Joseph family, heard the screams of a child and rushed up to the apartment. Kicking open her bedroom door he was met with flames and spotted young Mary standing helpless in the middle of the room, her clothes alight. Mr Tonie, without regard for his own safety, beat the flames out with his bare hands and swept the child up and rushed her down to his grocery store where he telephoned for an ambulance; Mary was taken to St Mary’s Hospital. Her parents, upon returning from church, were met by a policemen who informed them of events and they hastened to the hospital. Mary died from her injuries later that day with her parents by her side. She was buried in Mt Olivet Cemetery in Detroit. In March 1915, Kathryn gave birth to another daughter, Sadie. However, Kathryn tragically died at the age of 26 in June of tuberculosis. Sadie tragically died in November when she was less than a year old. In 1926, Peter Joseph died of a heart condition. Michael was taken in by an uncle and aunt. Later life and death Michael married Catherine Rouhana, another Michigan native with Lebanese parents. They had four children. Michael became a truck driver. He lived in Detroit for the rest of his life, and because of his tragic childhood he was rather quiet and enjoyed nothing more than the company of his family. He never cared to discuss Titanic and only spoke of it to his grandchildren. Michael Joseph died on May 18, 1991, a week after his 84th birthday of a heart attack. His death left eighteen remaining survivors.”