MARY FRANCES COYNE (nee O'Rourke), beloved wife of John P., born to the late Mary (nee Burke) and James O'Rourke on June 8, 1933; loving mother of Cathleen Coyne Lane (deceased) (John), Dennis M. (Denise), Thomas J. (Maria), Michael F. (Joan), Martin O. and Terence P. (Ann); proud grandmother of Patrick (Joanna), Sarah Czerwien (nee Lane) (Joe),  Katie, Heather, John, Jack, Caitlin, Tommy, Michael, Claire McCoy (nee Coyne) (Connor), Emily and Elizabeth; great-grandmother of Edie, Andy, Brendan and Connor; sister of John O'Rourke (deceased), James O'Rourke (deceased) (Hilda), Winifred Schorle (Bernard); and beloved aunt and great-aunt of many.  Mary entered eternal life on January 15, 2023 at her home surrounded by her family.

Mary's mother was born in County Galway, and her father was born in County Down; they emigrated from Ireland around 1920, with nothing but "the shirts on their backs."  Mary lived a robust and extraordinary life in the context of humble beginnings.  She always said, "We had nothing, but no one ever told us we were poor.  We considered ourselves privileged to be in America."  She was rich in spirit, determination and grit, and centered her life on faith and family.  And she never forgot her Irish heritage.   After graduating from Notre Dame Academy in 1951, she worked at the Weatherhead Company in the early 1950's, making parts for the U.S. military.  She also graduated from Dyke and Spencerian Business College and attended Ursuline College.  She was the co-founder of Coyne-Kangesser Parking, Park-Here Inc. and Willow Shore Realty.  She was a longtime business partner with her beloved husband of 68 years.  She was a real estate investor, a court appraiser and worked with her husband Jack in managing the family real estate businesses for many decades.  Mary was the past President and Board Member of the Catherine Horstmann Home, a past Board Member of the Carmelite Guild and the Loyola Society of St. Ignatius.  She was also a member of the Christ Child Society and the Women's City Club.  She received the Distinguished Service Award from Catherine Horstmann in 1984 and the "Walks of Life" Award from the Irish American Archives Society in 1998.  St. Patrick's Day is always a grand celebration in the Coyne family, as so many Clevelanders can attest, and Mary organized annual celebrations dating back to 1958.  Mary was very proud of her work for the Catholic children of Northern Ireland, and served as the Cleveland Coordinator of Project Children for many years.  Mary was also a member of the East Side Irish American Club, the West Side Irish American Club, the Irish Heritage Club and Shaker Heights Country Club.  Mary and Jack were among the best Irish dancers in town, and immensely enjoyed dancing together at Irish events over the years, where they were regularly surrounded by adoring onlookers.  While Mary was always very busy raising a large family and working, she did find time to travel the world, including treasured trips to see family in Ireland.  Mary, Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma will be dearly missed.

Relatives and friends are invited to meet for her Funeral Mass on Saturday, January 21, The Church of the Gesu (2470 Miramar Blvd., University Hts.) at 10:30 A.M.  Interment Lake View Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the John and Mary Coyne Family Endowment at Gesu School, 2470 Miramar Blvd., University Hts., OH 44118.

The Funeral Mass will be livestreamed on the Chambers Funeral Homes Facebook page (link to our Facebook page below):

https://www.facebook.com/Chambers-Funeral-Homes-1560347080741913