Esther attended the Groningen school for the deaf from September 8, 1903 to July 11, 1912. According to the school records, she was born deaf. She learned to sew.
Her father was a street vendor by trade. Esther herself became a seamstress and housewife.
Esther married Isaäc Mug, he was deaf and a former student of the Rotterdam school for the deaf.
The January issue of the magazine ANDOR (Algemeen Nederlandsch Doofstommen Orgaan) of 1938 contains the New Year's wishes from the Mug-Brilleman couple, who live at 43 Anna Paulownastraat in Rotterdam.