Sr. Mary Clared Coyne

SISTER MARY CLARED COYNE

The oldest of three children was born to Claribelle (McNelly) and Edward Coyne on April 3, 1927, in San Antonio, Texas.  She was baptized at St. Gerard’s Church on April 24, 1927, and named Mary Ellen.  With two younger brothers, Martin and Patrick, Mary Ellen grew in a family that was outgoing in its relationships, yet it was strongly centered.  Being so centered was necessary for during Mary Ellen’s youth, the family moved multiple times due to her father’s several business transfers.  By the time Mary Ellen was in the 8th grade, she had attended five elementary schools.  She spent her high school years at St. Gerard School, San Antonio.  

Wisely, her parents found ways to maintain their center.  They taught the children their Catholic religion which included reciting the Baltimore catechism lessons.  Closeness was sustained as the family camped and traveled together and generally entertained themselves.  Knowing a little of Mary Ellen’s early life, one is not surprised that most of Sister Clared’s conversations, even into her late 90’s, so often included some part of her family story.

A continuity that lasted Mary Ellen’s entire life was learning and appreciating music, mainly piano.  She began piano lessons when she was 8 years old and continued learning throughout more than nine decades.  During her freshman year at St. Gerard’s, her music teacher, Sister Francis de Sales Althoff, SSND told her that she thought she had a religious vocation.  Mary Ellen did not think that religions life was her calling, but, the idea continued to recur.  In May of her senior year, she talked to her parents about this.  Initially, they discounted the idea but after further discussion and prayer consented to her entrance into the congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. 

Mary Ellen’s first train ride took her to St. Louis, Missouri where she entered the SSND candidature at Sancta Maria in Ripa on August 28, 1944.  She was received into the novitiate on July 29, 1946, and given the name Mary Clared, a combination of her parents’ names.  She pronounced first vows on July 30, 1947, and final vows on July 30, 1953.

She received a bachelor’s degree in music from Webster College (now University), in Webster Groves, Missouri in 1954; a master’s degree in music from the University of Houston in Houston, in 1962; and a master’s degree in religious studies from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, in 1975.

Sister Clared taught music to children in the elementary schools for 24 years.  These she taught at St. Joseph, East St. Louis, Illinois; St. Engelbert, St. Louis, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Houston; St. Gregory, Tyler, Texas and Holy Rosary, San Antonio.  For 10 years, she taught secondary school youth at: St. Gerard Majella in Baton Rouge and Sacred Heart High School in New Orleans. While at the latter, she said “yes” to traveling across town to teach music for a few days a week at Redemptorist High School.

It would take more than the listing of the schools where she taught to have a picture of the application of her talents and creativity as she served her God and enriched the lives of others throughout her more than 75years of religious life.  All who knew her observed with amazement the very involved Sister Clared as piano teacher, organist, band director, director of musicals and plays, liturgist, activities director, and volunteer.  On the latter, it is remarkable that less than 24 hours before her death, an apparently healthy Sister Clared volunteered to call Bingo at the Sunday afternoon activity at St. Anthony’s Garden.

In 1984, she began caring for her mother in San Antonio until her mother passed away in 1989.  While there, Sister Clared directed the choir in her home parish, St. Gerard.

After her mother’s death she was asked if she would consider going to St. Mary of the Pines in Chatawa, Mississippi as liturgist and as activities director.  Her 3-year commitment there resulted in 29 years of enriching the life of the retired sisters.  During the time at St. Mary’s, Sister Clared also worked with the RCIA and she was a long-time member of Mission Pike County, an inter-faith outreach group, she initiated and was active with the SSND Associates at several sites.  She played the organ at the neighboring parish, St. James in Magnolia, Mississippi.

Music in the worship of her God was very special to her.  She dedicated thoughtful time to the preparation for the liturgies, prayerfully considering how each hymn selected would emphasize the lesson in the liturgy.  She was a woman dedicated to contemplative prayer.

Sister Clared was very much a community member, interested in each member’s special needs.  She reached out well beyond her immediate community to several generations of her birth family, to her SSND family, to associates, to students of long ago.  She did this in person and by all means at her disposal.  She kept a long, lively correspondence sending fond greetings on so many occasions to individuals in her extended communities. 

With other Sisters from Chatawa, Sister Clared moved to St. Anthony’s Gardens, Covington, Louisiana in October 2019.  During these last five years, she volunteered her service and played the piano for daily liturgy.

Though dying at 97 of age years cannot be called unexpected.  She surprised all who lived with her by going to God during her sleep early on the morning of July 15, 2024, at St. Anthony’s Gardens.  

Sister Clared is remembered for her energy and creativity with her lively participation in so many special interests.  May she now joy in the music of eternity her new life with her God whom she served so faithfully.

Sister Mary Clared was preceded in death by her parents and by her two brothers.  She is survived by several generations of cousins.

Services for Sister Clared Coyne will be held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 501 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington, La., 70471, on July 24, 2024, starting with a Sharing of Memories Service at 10:30 followed by the Memorial Funeral Mass at 11:00 A.M.  Father Rodney Bourg will officiate.  Burial is in St. Mary of the Pines Cemetery, Chatawa, Ms.  To view services go to the livestreamed Mass icon on the parish website: www.mhtcc.net.

Arrangements are entrusted to Serenity Funeral Home of Covington, La.

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