Winifred Wightman Webster

Winifred Wightman Webster, formerly of Ithaca, NY and Lincoln, MA, passed away at age 89 at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME on April 28 due to congestive heart failure. 

Win was born in NYC and grew up in Ithaca, NY with her parents, Henry and Jocelyn Wightman (both physicians), and her two older brothers Henry and Fred. She spent summers at the family house in Big Moose, NY and on Bailey Island in Harpswell, ME. 

After graduating from Oberlin College, Winifred relocated to Lincoln, MA. She married her husband David Webster in 1961 whom she met teaching in Lincoln. Win and Dave had two children, Douglas and Jocelyn, who spent winters in MA and summers in Maine. Summers were spent visiting relatives and friends at the family house on Bailey Island. Dave kept busy keeping the boys summer camp he founded going in Casco, ME.

After her children started high school, Win went back to teaching 3rd grade at Nashoba Brooks School in Concord, MA for 10+ years. She tutored grade school children and was actively involved with both donating and making deliveries for soup kitchens and food pantries.

When Win was 56, her husband died unexpectedly. She continued to snow blow the driveway and keep the lawn tidy with her "sit upon" mower, as compared to a "you push it" mower. After a few years, she moved to Bedford, MA where she continued to be active visiting with friends and helping food pantries. All winter long she continued to look forward to spending her summers on Bailey Island at the family house.

In 2010 she moved from Bedford, MA to Yarmouth, ME to be closer to her two children, their families, and her grandson, David. She was active with the First Parish Church in Yarmouth and continued to donate and volunteer for food pantries in both Yarmouth and other towns. As the consummate teacher, she enjoyed watching her grandson grow and entertaining children in the living room of the Bailey Island house. 

Win thoroughly enjoyed watching sports including college football, the Patriots, the Red Sox, and tennis. She was an avid reader and loved listening to classical music. She also enjoyed sewing, making many quilts for friends and family members. One of her favorite expressions when times were tough was "this too will pass".

With her practical knowledge of summer camp operations, she was an active member of the Board of Trustees of Brantwood Camp in Greenfield, NH for many years. She also sponsored several kids attending Brantwood and Camp Fleur de Lis in Fitzwilliam, NH. It gave her great joy giving kids opportunities to grow and learn during their formative years.

In 2023, she moved out of her house trying various assisted living facilities. Where she landed at The Cedars in Portland, ME, she enjoyed making friends and having meals with others. Although it was hard to give up her home, and she missed her independence, they took field trips during good weather and consistently had good comradery.

Win was predeceased by her husband, David Webster, and her two brothers Henry Wightman (of Camillus, NY) and Fred Wightman (of Glen Ellyn, IL). She leaves behind son Doug and his wife Kelly (of Casco, ME), daughter Jocelyn Doughty and her husband Fred (of West Baldwin, ME), her grandson David, and nephews and nieces.

A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, June 27th at 11:00 AM in Yarmouth, Maine at the church where she was a member. The First Parish Church Yarmouth is at 116 Main Street. Please join us for some light refreshments following the service in the fellowship hall.

If you are unable to make the service it will be streamed live and/or recorded and posted on the church's website. To access the livestream go to the First Parish Yarmouth website:  https://www.firstparishyarmouth.org/ Click on "Join Us for Worship" at 10:55 am. (Note: if you click on this before 10:55 a message will tell you that the broadcast is offline).  If you are unable to watch the live service, a recorded video will be available later that day or in the following days. Return to the church website, but select the "About" option (top right menu), then click on Past Worship Services. Look for the latest streamed video recordings to find the service.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the First Parish Church Yarmouth, Brantwood Camp, or a local food pantry of your choice.

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