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Obituary: Sister Marguerite Moya Coyne, a longtime educator and ex-superintendent of Greensburg Catholic schools

Sisters of St. Joseph

Obituary: Sister Marguerite Moya Coyne, a longtime educator and ex-superintendent of Greensburg Catholic schools

Oct. 8, 1940 - Jan. 14, 2021

A beloved educator and leader in the Catholic Diocese of Greensburg for more than four decades — including as superintendent of its school system — Sister Marguerite Coyne of the Sisters of St. Joseph had the rare gift of being able to quickly and quietly size up a situation or person.

“She was one of the most wonderful people I’ve ever worked with. She was competent and not intimidated by others. She stood her ground, but she was not abrasive or controlling,” said Monsignor James Gaston, who worked closely with Sister Marguerite in the education department of the Greensburg Diocese. “She was more silent than vocal, and she was very perceptive, if not intuitive. I would consider her one of the greatest people I’ve worked with over the years.”

After her retirement from education, Sister Marguerite continued to make major contributions, which included helping to redesign the St. Joseph convent in Baden into apartments for some of the 127 members of the congregation.

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Even in that she was a visionary with an eye toward the future, said her longtime friend Sister Jeanne Rodgers.

“She made sure that when there aren’t enough of us to live in this apartment complex, people with lower incomes from [Beaver County] will be able to live here,” Sister Jeanne said. “That was her doing, as part of the congregation leadership team.”

A registered nurse, Sister Jeanne served as caretaker for her friend when she became ill with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

“We’ve been good buddies since the 1970s, so we’ve had a long friendship,” she said. “That kind of friendship doesn’t walk into your life very often.”

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Sister Marguerite, of Baden, died of complications from CLL on Jan. 14. She was 80.

The youngest among eight children of immigrants from Galway, Ireland, Sister Marguerite grew up in Mt. Lebanon

She joined the Sisters of St. Joseph in September 1958, after graduating from Elizabeth Seton High School.

Sister Marguerite earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Carlow University and Duquesne University, respectively. In recent years, she delayed the completion of her doctorate degree at California University of Pennsylvania to fulfill a post with the congregation leadership team.

“She was just a dissertation away from getting her doctorate when she got elected to the leadership,” Sister Jeanne said. “She was a lifelong learner.”

After spending nine years as a teacher in dioceses of Pittsburgh, Altoona-Johnstown and Greensburg, Sister Marguerite became principal of Our Lady of Victory, in State College, Centre County, where she served from 1970-1978.

Afterward, she was principal at Ambridge Area Catholic in Ambridge from 1978 to 1987.

Before her retirement in 2003, Sister Marguerite worked in various administrative roles in the Greensburg Diocese, including as associate director of schools and assistant superintendent, before being named superintendent in 1998.

As chief of the school system, she oversaw 32 schools, along with their budgets, and helped to develop curriculum.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing, recalled Sister Jeanne, especially when Sister Marguerite was called upon to shutter six schools as part of a restructuring plan that folded nine schools into three.

“I think it was difficult, but she had to do it,” she said. “Some of the parents were very angry about losing their own school and having to regionalize. In one meeting, she talked to over 400 parents who were upset about the possibility of losing their school. They just didn’t have the money to keep all of the schools open with declining enrollment.”

Sister Marguerite, known affectionately as Margie (pronounced Mahr-ghi instead of Mahr-gee) among friends, had an endless reservoir of patience and made time for everybody, Sister Jeanne said.

“Listening was probably one of her best gifts,” she said. “So many of the sisters would go to her for counsel. Margie could always listen, and she would listen so deeply that when you left you had a sense of what direction you were going to go without her saying a word.”

After a 42-year career in education, Sister Marguerite was elected to the congregation’s leadership team and served as co-chair of the Tri-Diocesan Sisters Leadership Conference. She held both posts from 2003 until 2013.

A lover of the outdoors and nature, Sister Marguerite often took long walks when she had a problem that needed solving.

“She just loved nature — she always wanted to be outside,” Sister Jeanne said. “If Margie ever needed to think anything through, she’d take a walk and talk to God. She was very discerning when it came to making decisions; she tried always to find what was good for everybody. She had a very real sense of integrity and justice.”

A talented singer, Sister Marguerite also had a legendary sense of humor, according to the dozens of comments left in a tribute to her on Facebook.

“[Margie] was a wonderful woman and tremendous educator,” wrote Marilyn Llewellyn. “She lived a life rooted in compassion and justice. I enjoyed many good times over the years with her. We could seriously discuss important issues. We also could laugh, party, and have a good time especially on St. Patrick’s Day.”

Mimi DiGregory wrote: “Sister Moya, as we knew her at St. Canice, oh so many years ago. She was one of my favorite teachers there. Her gentleness, her sweet voice, her smile ... her Irish.

“She touched my heart and was an important part of my faith journey. I will miss her but will hold her memory in my heart. The Unicorn song by the Irish Rovers was just one of the fun memories I have of her from 6th grade and I haven’t stopped hearing it in my head since I heard of her passing. Rest well in the loving arms of God.”

“Heavens, yes, she was so funny,” Sister Jeanne said. “She had an Irish wit — there was always something to laugh about and something positive to say.”

She is survived by a sister, Anna Coyne Cimino, of Hartford City, Ind. She was preceded in death by her two brothers, James Michael Coyne and John Patrick Coyne; and four sisters, Mary Coyne Patton, Helen Coyne Walsh, Sarah Coyne Lebanik and Kathleen Coyne Kreuz.

Her funeral was last week.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Sisters of St. Joseph Memorial Fund, Development Office, 1020 State St., Baden, PA 15005.

Janice Crompton: jcrompton@post-gazette.com.

First Published: January 26, 2021, 1:05 a.m.

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Sister Marguerite Coyne  (Sisters of St. Joseph)
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