EAST FREETOWN — Margaret L. (Irvin) Brightman, 95, of East Freetown, died at home on December 29, 2008.
Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Jeremiah and Catherine (Baumgartel) Irvin and the widow of James D. Brightman, to whom she was married for 58 years.
A graduate of New Bedford High School, Mrs. Brightman worked as a clerk at the New Bedford News Company and later was a secretary at Apponequet Regional High School until her retirement in 1975.
She was a member of the former First Presbyterian Church of New Bedford, where she played the piano for the Sunday school for many years. After she retired, Mrs. Brightman was a docent and volunteer archivist at the New Bedford Whaling Museum for 20 years and a registrar of voters in Freetown for 12 years.
Mrs. Brightman is survived by a daughter, Jane Brightman of East Freetown; two nieces, Betsy Wells of Louisville, Kentucky and Priscilla Cosgrove of Milton; a nephew, James Irvin of Durham, New Hampshire; one great-niece; three great-nephews; and a number of great great-nieces and nephews.
She was also the sister of the late Arthur, Florence, Harriet, and Edward Irvin and Laura Riendeau.
In her long life, Mrs. Brightman's hobbies included going to the theater, traveling, genealogy, sewing, gardening, and feeding the birds in her back yard.
The family wishes to thank Margaret's neighbors for their kindness to her during her later years and Community Nurse and Hospice and Patricia Souza for their care during the final months of Margaret's life.
In accordance with the wishes of the deceased, there will be no funeral.