Joeal Louise Altdorfer
March 13, 2026
Visitation: Friday, March 20, 2026 10:00 AM Devlin Funeral Home
Service: Blessing Service, Friday, March 20, 2026 11:00 AM Devlin Funeral Home
Joeal Louise Altdorfer, 89 years old, of Pittsburgh, passed away on March 13, 2026. Beloved wife (John Altdorfer) for more than four decades; Proud mother of John Patrick (spouse Kathy Dambaugh, Jeffrey Timothy (spouse Laurie Altdorfer), Jarrett Scott (spouse Michelle Altdorfer), And Danielle Altdorfer (deceased). Loving grandmother to Matthew, Benjamin, Jordan and Davian Altdorfer; Sister of Adrienne Habelter. In Lieu of flowers, really instead of flowers, please direct memorial contributions to, Little Sisters of the Poor, 1028 Benton Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15212
Our mother conquered more in one lifetime than most people do in three. Born into the poverty of the Depression, in the not so ironically named town of Reduction, Pennsylvania. Our mum learned early that life wasn’t going to hand her anything, in fact when there was a hand present, it snatched anything of value. Our mother built a life from the ground up, literally. The houseboat our mum called home as a teenager caught fire, sinking to the bottom of the Ohio River.
Our mother overcame parental abandonment and abuse. Life handed our mother more than the usual fair share of sorrow, including the tragedy of losing the family’s only girl “Danielle” far too soon.
And somehow—miraculously, our mother managed to raise three children who became functional adults, despite regularly questioning our collective common sense. She practiced the arts of love, discipline, and knowing exactly when to show, from her purse, the handle of “The Wooden Spoon”. We grew up learning resilience, humor, and, most importantly, the correct utensils to use when eating lunch and a pecan ball smothered with hot fudge and topped with real whipped cream at the Tic-Toc Clubhouse at Kaufmann’s in downtown Pittsburgh—an art our mother believed separated civilized society from chaos.
As a grandmother to four boys, she spoiled them, teased them, and let them get away with far more than ever allowed their parents.
Our mother, a talented seamstress, left behind a legacy woven with kindness, determination, laughter, and just enough chaos to make life lively. At 85 years old, our mother designed and sewed more than 200 cloth masks for essential workers during the Covid pandemic. She leaves behind children, grandchildren, and a circle of family and friends who will be telling her stories for the rest of their lives, or at least they better be telling stories—some inspirational, some unbelievable, and all absolutely true (or at least true enough).
In her honor, remember that sometimes dessert comes first and eat with the proper utensils.
Friends will be received on Friday, March 20, 2026, 10:00 AM at the Devlin Funeral Home 806 Perry Hwy. Pittsburgh, PA 15229. Blessing Service to follow, 11:00 AM at the funeral home.
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