Nancy Ann (Brightman) Kawa, 63, of Dalton, Georgia, formerly of New Bedford, passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2009 at home. She was the wife of Chet Kawa.

Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late George H. and Sarah (McMullen) Brightman.

Nancy was co-owner of R. and N. Industries, a carpet sales company.

She was a graduate of Holy Family High School.

Nancy was a loving and caring individual, who cared more about family and friends than she did about herself. She visited several Asian Pacific countries accompaning Chet on business trips and won over many friends in these countries.

Survivors include her husband; her mother-in-law, Doris Kawa; her brother-in-law, Kenny Kawa; her cousins, Michael and Patty Wilbur, Noella Joao, Ann Marie and Mario Viveiros, Rosemary and John Moniz, and several other cousins; her special Dalton family, the Barber family; and her special friends, Annabella and Gary Christy.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10 AM at Holy Name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 855 Abutment Road, Suite 6, Dalton, GA 30721, or to St Jude's Children Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.