Dorothy Grundmann Janssen, commercial artist, dies at 100
December 16, 2010 Times Picayune
Submitted by N.O.V.A.


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Dorothy Grundmann Janssen, a commercial artist whose home was a magnet for neighborhood children, died at
Poydras Home on Tuesday, two days before her 101st birthday.

A lifelong New Orleanian who grew up across the street from City Park, Mrs. Janssen graduated from the
Academy of the Sacred Heart. She studied art at Newcomb College and a school run by Thelma Dumaine before
embarking on a career as a commercial artist.

She started at The New Orleans Item, an afternoon newspaper, and moved on to work for Canal Street
department stores such as Maison Blanche and D.H. Holmes, sketching merchandise such as shoes, dresses and
lingerie for their advertisements, said Janie LeBlanc, her daughter.

She and her husband, James Janssen, lived on Bellaire Drive. Although he was an engineer, he was a
storyteller at heart, LeBlanc said, and he spun stories about three elves, who, he said, lived in an oak
tree in the backyard.

James Janssen, who compiled three privately published books of elf stories, even put a red door on the tree
and erected cement mushrooms in the backyard, his daughter said.

"People would come and ask if they could see the elves," LeBlanc said. "My mother always had Keebler elf
cookies ready for them."

Because Mrs. Janssen lived so long, she was invariably singled out for that achievement. She was Sacred
Heart's oldest alumna -- she was honored at her 80th class reunion -- and she was the oldest member of the
Southern Yacht Club.

James Janssen, her husband of 64 years, died in 2001.

Survivors include a son, George Janssen of Mandeville; two daughters, Janie LeBlanc of New Orleans and Karen
Buford of Metairie; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A Mass will be said Friday at noon at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. Visitation
will start at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Metairie Cemetery.