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Janice Elizabeth Atty, or Miss Atty, as hundreds of her students called her, fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday after complications due to Alzheimer's. She was 88 years old. May Her Memory Be Eternal.
Born in Altoona, Janice graduated from Altoona High School in 1956. She earned a Bachelor of Education degree from Indiana State Teachers College and a Master of Education degree from Penn State University. Janice was elected to Kappa Delta Pi and Pi Lambda Theta, Education Honorary Fraternities.
She taught school for five years in Altoona, two years in Pomona, Calif., and more than 30 years in Daytona Beach, Fla. Teaching first grade students was her first love, and she was both recognized and honored for her exceptional teaching skills.
Each summer, Janice enjoyed traveling, eventually visiting every continent except Antarctica.
After retiring, Janice worked at the Apple Tree Educational store for 10 years, where she advised teachers and parents who were homeschooling on which books and activities would be best for their children.
During her years in Altoona, Janice studied piano and voice with Miss Roberts and was a member of ACT, Altoona Community Theatre. She performed at the Mishler Theatre in "The King and I," "South Pacific," "The Boyfriend," "Guys and Dolls," "A Shot in the Dark," "Teahouse of the August Moon," "Kiss Me Kate," "The Diary of Anne Frank," "Born Yesterday" and "Auntie Mame." ACT director Barbara Titelman referred to Janice as her muse. Local artist Joe Servello hand painted a scarf celebrating Janice's performances. Reviews in the Altoona Mirror read: "Janice Atty is magnetic and sparkling"; "Miss Atty gave an outstanding performance in spirit and beauty"; and "Janice's every action seemed natural, and yet had a technique that well known pop vocalists cannot boast." City officials wanted Janice to enter the Miss Pennsylvania pageant, but when her father learned that she would have to appear on stage in a bathing suit, he forbade it.
Janice was proud of her Lebanese Christian heritage and was a member of Altoona's St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church; in Daytona Beach at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church; and in Ormond Beach at Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church, singing in the Greek and Byzantine choirs.
Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Joe Atty (nee Sa'id Yusef Atiyeh) of Amioun, Lebanon, and Tamineh (Minnie Nader) of Altoona; and her brother, Joseph Atty of Daytona Beach.
Surviving are her sister, Linda Nelson, of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; brother, George Atty of New York City and Daytona Beach; niece, Julie Nelson; and great-niece, Shelby Taylor, of Jacksonville, Fla.
Arrangements are by Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, Port Orange, Fla.
Donations can be made to Holy Cross Orthodox Church, 375 Fleming Ave., Ormond Beach, FL 32174 (Janice Atty Memorial Fund); or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.