Janice Austin

Janice Sylvia Dahl Austin was born July 2, 1938, in Fargo, North Dakota, the daughter of Melvin and Josephine (nee Troen) Dahl. The granddaughter of Norwegian immigrants, she never lost her love of Norway and continued to honor her Norwegian heritage throughout her life.

The Dahls moved to Portland, Oregon, in the early 40’s where Josephine had family. Jan graduated from Grant High School in Portland and attended Lewis and Clark College and Oregon State University where she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi social sorority. In 1959, encouraged by her favorite Auntie Betty, she applied and was one of very few applicants selected to a posting with the United States Department of State working for the Foreign Service. She moved to Washington, DC, to train and request the location of her posting. Jan was assigned to Brussels, Belgium, her second choice, Norway being her first.

During her time in DC she made friends with young women from across the country. A new friend from Birmingham, Alabama, introduced her to a high school classmate who was working at Walter Reed as a staff dentist. Dr. James Duncan Austin was ready to marry Jan before she traveled to Belgium (aboard the QE2 where she was invited to sit at the Captain’s table) but she was not going to give up a chance of living and working in Europe. She left but he soon followed, re-enlisting as an Army dentist stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, just 5 hours away from her.

Jan was quite progressive for a single woman in the early 1960’s. She borrowed money from the aforementioned Aunt Betty and purchased a brand new ‘61 red MG convertible so she and her roommate could spend weekends touring France and Spain. She even took a solo trip to Vingelen, Norway, to visit family. When she visited again in 1998, they all remembered the beautiful young girl with the red convertible. And… she continued to date the dentist who had followed her across the sea.

By 1963 Jan and Duncan’s relationship had become serious. Her foreign office appointment was scheduled for renewal but she decided to accept his marriage proposal instead. She went back to Portland to prepare and Duncan followed her back to the States, sending a telegram saying, “Warm up the church! See you soon!” They were married in Portland, Oregon, on April 6th, 1963, and spent their honeymoon month driving down the coasts of Oregon and California before settling into their first home together in Kaleen, Texas. Duncan was soon employed by the Veterans Administration hospital system. His job took the young couple to Maryland, Tennessee, and finally back to his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. They bought their home in Indian Springs Village in 1971.

In December of that year, Jan and Duncan welcomed their only child, Kristina (Kristi), the light of Jan’s life. A stay-at-home Mom in the early years, Jan gardened, carpooled, and delighted in raising her daughter. Eventually she returned to her government roots, retiring from the VA hospital system in the mid-nineties. Retirement brought many travels for the family and time for she and Duncan to enjoy their lake home and airstream.

A dedicated wife and mother, in 2006 Jan found herself caring for her husband of 56 years as he began showing signs of memory loss. She and Kristi cared for Duncan until his death in 2019 when she found herself with the same diagnosis. Her decline had likely starting a few years earlier, but Jan was a strong woman and worked to focus on Duncan and keep her family going. Kristi moved back home to help care for Duncan and stayed to care for her mother, just as Jan had cared for everyone else. Dementia is a cruel disease and a stroke in June of 2021 caused Jan’s health to decline quickly. She passed away peacefully in her home of 50 years with, no doubt, Duncan waiting to take her hand onto their next adventure.

Jan was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Josephine; her brother Leonard; and her husband, Dr. James Duncan Austin.

She is survived by her beloved daughter, Kristina Lynn Austin.

Kristi would like to thank the many friends and family who have provided their steadfast support during her family’s journey. She would especially like to express her thanks to Anedia Jackson for filling Jan’s final days with loving care and to Josh Miller for his kind help and comedic ability to walk us through the hardest days.

A graveside service will be held at Rideout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama. Look for a red convertible flying the Norwegian flag in Jan’s honor!

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alabama Chapter, https://www.alz.org/al.