Jane Altizer

News Obituary Article

ROSWELL: Jane Altizer, 77, ran funeral home

By DERRICK HENRY

Jane Altizer grew up in an Atlanta funeral home and made the family business her own. That didn't stop her from having fun.

"She always wanted to dress up and go out," said her daughter, Blanche Mahoney of Boones Mill, Va. "She loved to party and dance."

In 1925, her parents founded the funeral home J. Austin Dillon Co. at 502 Pryor St. Mrs. Altizer, born two years later, lived upstairs with them until she graduated from Girls High School.

As a child, she danced in Sunday afternoon kiddie shows at Atlanta movie emporiums. "She used to dance on a piece of wood shaped like a drum," her daughter said.

After high school, she headed off to Ohio to learn her trade at the Cincinnati School of Mortuary Science.

"On her first day of class, she met Louie Thomas and said, 'That's the man I'm going to marry,' " said her friend Mike Castleberry of Alpharetta, manager of Louie E. Jones Funeral Home.

Her parents did not approve, but that didn't stop Mrs. Altizer. "She had been married three months before she told her parents," Mr. Castleberry said. Mrs. Altizer married again after Mr. Thomas died.

Jane Austin Dillon Altizer, 77, died of heart disease Sunday at her Roswell residence. The graveside service is 11 a.m. Friday at Greenwood Cemetery. Northside Chapel Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Altizer became a licensed funeral director at 21. She took over the family business when her mother died in 1970 and retired in 1982, her daughter said.

"Jane was well-respected," said Ralph Turner of Decatur, president of A.S. Turner & Sons funeral home. "She was outgoing and easy to work with and had a good personality."

"She was very personable and caring and a very astute businesswoman," said her high school classmate Betty Coons of Atlanta.

Long before the term was popular, Mrs. Altizer dressed for success and was named one of Atlanta's best dressed in 1970. "She was a clotheshorse --- very stylish and always beautifully groomed," said Mrs. Coons. "Her bright red lipstick was her trademark," Mr. Castleberry said.

Red was a favorite color. For half a century, Mrs. Altizer drove a series of red Cadillacs.

"Mother was a feisty thing, very independent," her daughter said. "She'd give you the shirt off her back, but you'd better not cross her."

"She was the most determined and independent soul you have ever seen," said Mrs. Coons.

Survivors include two grandsons.

© 2004 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution