Janet Mahoney

Dora Janet "Ja-Net" Au Mahoney passed away on Monday, Nov. 11, 2013, at Life Care Center of Collegedale. She was 92. She was born Nov. 7, 1921. Janet graduated from Rossville High School, attended classes at the University of Chattanooga and later graduated as a registered medical technologist (med tech) from Baroness Erlanger Hospitals School of Medical Technology. She began her career working at the Volunteer Ammunition Plant Clinic during WWII for a period of 40 months. After the war, she returned to Erlanger Hospital and continued working for 29 years as a med tech and also teaching in Erlangers School of Medical Technology until her retirement in the early 1980's. After retirement, she taught phlebotomy part-time at Chattanooga State Technical Community College. Never meeting a stranger, she loved to have people around and entertain. She also loved to discuss family history and served as the family historian. Collecting and the passing along family history was a very important labor of love to her. To that end she compiled a 200-page work of family history and spent many hours in her retirement years making sure everything was documented and correct. She also recorded an extensive oral family history replete with stories of growing up on the farm in Rossville. She also participated in the Library of Congress Veterans History Project resulting in a published interview and video. Janet was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church serving in many areas. She sang in the choir, was an active member of United Methodist Women, and volunteered in the church library. She was a long time member (50+ years) at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Chattanooga. She was preceeded in death by her husband of 58 years, Wilbur T. Mahoney Jr.; parents, Leo H. Au and Nettie Brown Au; siblings, William J. Au Sr., Carolene Wall, Sarah Steele and Harry B. Au Sr. She is survived by, son and daughter-in-law, Wilbur T. Mahoney III and Marge (Daly), of Lansing, Mich.; daughter and son-in-law, Lynn Mahoney Ownsby and Gary S. Ownsby, Chattanooga; grandchildren, Kelly and Megan Mahoney, Lansing, Mich.; Dianna Ownsby (Mark) Bender, Chattanooga; and great-granddaughter, Kathleen "Katie" Bender, Chattanooga. Gravesides services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at Chattanooga National Cemetery with the Rev. Ben Matherly officiating. Memorial contributions in honor of Janet may be made to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Chattanooga or Amedisys Hospice of Chattanooga. Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort to the family and to view the memorial tribute to Janet. The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. today, Nov. 14, at Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.