Obituaries

July 25th, 2026

Margaret Brennan Deckman, age 87, of Phoenixville, PA, formerly of Norristown and Upper Chichester, died Thursday, July 23rd, at Woodbridge Place Senior Living in Phoenixville. Born in Philadelphia to John F. Brennan, Jr. and Marian B. McDermott Brennan, she attended the Most Blessed Sacrament elementary school before moving on to West Catholic high school for girls, graduating with the class of 1956. Margaret then went on to earn a bachelor’ s degree in mathematics from Immaculata College.  Then it was on to St. John’s University to complete her Master’s program, also in math.

She began her career as a teacher at Temple University before moving on to teach in the Philadelphia Archdiocese, first at Little Flower high school for 6 years and then at Roman Catholic high school for 29 years before her retirement in 2014. Margaret was a woman dedicated to her family and her Catholic faith. She especially enjoyed singing with the church choir, and she served as a choir director and organist at multiple churches as well.  Margaret had a special fondness for math, horses, music, photography, and sweets.  She was proficient on piano, organ, violin, ukelele and banjo. Margaret’s grandson, Chaz,  summed it up best when he noted: “Grandma loved to teach, she was musically gifted with an instrumental arsenal. She loved the art of music. She loved her coloring books, giving our lives vibrant color and flair.”

In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husband Robert (Bob) E. Deckman, her brother John Brennan and her son-in-law Jeffrey Cox. She is survived by two daughters: Mary (Cox) and Susan, as well as two sons: Rob and James (Jay) and his wife Kate, one brother: James (Jim) and his wife Barbara Brennan, four grandchildren: Noah, Chaz, Sara, and Matt, as well as three great-grandchildren: Jayden, Rosie, and Madison.

Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am Wednesday, July 29th at the chapel of St. Ann’s Catholic Church, located at 604 S. Main St. Phoenixville, PA 19460. Burial will be private. Margaret was a very generous person in spirit and deed.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in her name may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.