Boarded SS Eastland with her mother for a picnic held at Western Electric at 7:30 AM. Few minutes later-because of the weight of passengers, the huge lake steamer was rolling slowly to the side in the Chicago river near the docks. Many passengers and crew risked drowning in the shallow water, being crushed by falling furniture. Both Dorothy and her mother perished- their bodies were recovered and buried in silk coffins. They were giving hymn songs for their memorial. The news of the tragedy left their father John Fitzgerald broken-hearted. Four playmates who knew Dorothy came to the ceremony.