Janet A. Pontbriand

Visitation will take place on Thursday, December 15, 2022 from 10:30am to 12:00pm at the Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg. Funeral services and burial will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Janet’s name may be made to the Friends of Coggshall, PO Box 792, Fitchburg, MA 01420 or to a charity of one’s choosing in Janet’s name. Most importantly, carry on Janet’s legacy by gathering with friends, walking the beach, or going for a “mystery ride”.



Janet A. Pontbriand (Alger) passed away on Saturday, December 10, 2022 in the Broadview Assisted Living Community in Winchendon. Her passion for life, sense of adventure, courageous spirit, creativity, beautiful smile and infectious laugh will live on in her family, friends, and all the lives that she touched throughout her life.

Janet was born in Gardner on February 11, 1938, the daughter of Paul and Martha (Haase) Alger. She was a lifelong resident of Fitchburg and graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1955. She married her husband Paul H. Pontbriand in 1958 and they were married for 32 years until his passing in 1990. Janet had a diverse career having worked in the Fitchburg Public Schools doing hearing and vision testing and as a library aide. She also worked for many years as a medical secretary, school librarian, quality reviewer for the Internal Revenue Service and after retiring she worked for many years at the Fitchburg State University bookstore.

Janet loved her family and friends. She enjoyed entertaining and hosting her family, friends, and neighbors at the house on Bel Air Drive over the years. She always was the life of any party or get together with her sense of humor and fun-loving spirit making everyone feel special and loved. She loved the ocean having enjoyed many years visiting Cape Cod as well as the beaches of Maine, Hampton Beach, and Rockport, MA. She travelled extensively throughout her life having visited California, Las Vegas, the Pacific Northwest, New Orleans, Nashville, and to Europe where she visited London, Paris, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. In retirement, Janet enjoyed many winters with dear friends in Englewood, Florida.

She loved reading a good book, solving a crossword puzzle on the beach, playing Scrabble, and spending time in nature. She loved to explore and was famous for taking her family and friends on “mystery rides” where there was always adventure, fun, and new experiences. She enjoyed learning new things, experiencing the arts, watching a good movie, and always enjoyed a good party. She was very proud of her German heritage and a lifelong member of Trinity Congregational Church in Fitchburg. She loved her mother, Martha “Nana” and took excellent care of her throughout her life.

Janet is survived by her daughter, Sharon L. Nelson of Gardner and her son Robert A. Pontbriand of Dunstable and his fiancée Bridgette Braley and daughter-in-law Christine Pontbriand. She is survived by her grandchildren, Justin Nelson, Emily Nelson, Andrew Pontbriand, Jr., Brittany Pontbriand and her great grandchildren Madison Brown and Brooke Partelow. Janet was predeceased by her husband Paul H. Pontbriand in 1990, her son Andrew Pontbriand, Sr. in 2014, as well as a brother Raymond Erickson and sister Gertrude Howland.