Janet W. (Wollentin) Blodgett

Janet W. (Wollentin) Blodgett, age 78, of Maynard, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 20, 2025.

Janet was born in Newark, New Jersey, on December 7, 1946, daughter of the late Robert W. and Margaret (Kautzmann) Wollentin. She was raised and educated in Bloomfield, New Jersey, graduating from Bloomfield High School, class of 1964. Janet continued her education at Dickinson College, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Religion, class of 1968. She married her husband, Vernon Blodgett in 1968. The couple spent two years in Germany after Vernon was drafted by the United States Army. Upon returning home they settled in Arlington, MA.

Janet soon began working for the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company, where she helped develop internal training methods until her daughter was born in 1983.

Janet was a loving mother, and eventually a grandmother. She volunteered at the elementary school and as a Girl Scout leader, in the early 1990s.

Janet enjoyed reading science fiction novels and watching Sci-Fi movies. She was a parishioner of First Parish Unitarian Universalist of Arlington for thirty-five years. She was a member of the crafting group at the parish as well as the Women’s Alliance. She was also passionate about community service, volunteering at the Housing Corporation of Arlington from 2003 – 2012, eventually serving on the board, and serving as a poll worker for town elections. After moving to Maynard in 2022, Janet made friends at Camellia Gardens, where she lived, and participated in the book discussion group as well as the cardio drumming class.

Janet is survived by her daughter, Jennie R.M. Blodgett of Somerville, MA; her grandchild, Mary “Archer” Koser of Somerville, MA; her siblings, Rosemary Johnson and husband Bruce of Davis, CA; Roberta “Robin” Stromholt and husband Erik of Ocean Park, WA; Andrew Wollentin and wife Karen of Severna Park, MD; sister-in-law, Barbara Blodgett of Arlington, MA; her cousin, Mary Gaylord of Concord, MA; and her second husband Glenn C. Koenig of Maynard, MA.

Details for a memorial service will be forthcoming.

Gifts in her memory can be made to the Housing Corporation of Arlington or Broken Tail Rescue.