Margaret Mary “Peggy” Harrington, 69, of Acushnet died peacefully at home after a long and courageous battle with cancer and Covid-19. She was the beloved wife of Eugene P. Jones and the daughter of the late John and Phyllis Harrington. Peggy and Gene celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary on December 29, 2020.
Peggy was born in New Bedford, MA and graduated from Holy Family High School. She earned a Bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Massachusetts University, Master’s degrees from URI and Regis College and a Doctor of Education degree from Boston University. Her graduate education was concentrated in Spanish and Bilingual Education.
Peggy devoted her life to the education of English language learners. She believed that everyone deserved the best education she could offer, especially the poor, the marginalized, and the immigrant communities she served for so long. She knew that learning English was the first step to a better life, and often taught ESOL without compensation.
She always put education above financial gain. When funding was cut for a GED course she was teaching, she continued to teach her students, oftentimes in coffee shops or their homes. When some of her students were caught up in an ICE raid, she went to the Ash Street jail to interpret and help them in any way she could.
She served in the Peace Corps in Honduras teaching environmental conservation to local teachers. She loved the Honduran people, and even when she had to interrupt her Peace Corps service for health reasons, she returned to Honduras and her students as soon as she was able.
She taught in inner city elementary schools in New Bedford, Chelsea, and Providence where she was loved by her students, many of whom would kiss her goodbye at the end of the day. She was a sought-after graduate course instructor at Boston University, the Education Alliance at Brown University, Bristol Community College, Rhode Island College, Roger Williams University, Salve Regina University and UMass Boston and Dartmouth.
Peggy was warm, kind, thoughtful, insightful and generous to a fault. She and Gene opened their home to all, and all the best parties were held there. She loved Gene and her family, especially her nieces and nephews upon whom she showered her love and for whom she was and always will be the Favorite Auntie. Gene plans to ride her coattails straight into heaven.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her sisters, Maura Harrington, Ann Ibara and husband Dick, Joan Sopel and husband Dale, and Eileen Harrington, her brothers, Seamus Harrington and wife Nancy, and Daniel Harrington and wife Debbie, and many nieces and nephews.
She was the sister of the late Sean Harrington.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday January 14, 2021 at 9 AM at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. 121 Mount Pleasant St., New Bedford. Due to current capacity restrictions, her visitation and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Immigrants' Assistance Center, 58 Crapo St., New Bedford, MA 02740. Arrangements are by the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.