MARLBOROUGH. Mass. - Sister of St. Anne Doris Pontbriand, 83, known in religion as Sister Marie Anne Elise, died June 9 at Marie Esther Health Center. She was in her 63rd year of religious life.?
She was the daughter of the late Arsene and Elise (Vandal) Pontbriand of Manville. She completed her elementary education at St. James School in Manville and obtained her high school diploma from the former Notre Dame High School, Central Falls, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Boston College School of Nursing and a visiting ministry certificate from St. Vincent Hospital Department of Pastoral Service.
Sister Pontbriand entered the novitiate of the Sisters of St. Anne in Lachine, Quebec in 1947 and made her profession of vows in 1949. She began her teaching ministry in Worcester, and also taught in Central Falls before beginning studies in the nursing field. After obtaining her license as a registered nurse, she ministered at St. Anne Academy, Marlborough, St. Anne de Beaupre, Quebec, and at St. Anne Infirmary in Marlborough. She also worked at the J.E. Fogarty Memorial Hospital, North Smithfield, Woonsocket Hospital and Mount St. Rita Health Centre in Cumberland. During the last 10 years of active ministry she worked as clinical pastoral associate at St. Mary of the Assumption Parish in Milford, Mass. She entered the assisted living section of Marie Esther Health Center in January 2001.?
In addition to her religious community, she is survived by two sisters, Cecile Dussault and Suzanne Pontbriand, both of Manville; and three brothers, Lucien Pontbriand of Woonsocket; and Leo and Richard Pontbriand, both of Cumberland. She was the sister of the late Jean Pontbriand.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated June 13 in the convent chapel. Burial was in St.. Mary Cemetery, Marlborough. A memorial Mass will be celebrated on June 30, 11 a.m., at St. James Church, 33 Division St., Manville, followed immediately by a reception in the parish hall.
