November 9, 2012

William Coyne was the father of Bishop Christopher J. Coyne

Criterion staff report

William L. Coyne JrWilliam L. Coyne Jr. of Woburn, Mass., the father of Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, died on Oct. 29 after a brief illness. He was 89.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Nov. 3 at St. Barbara Church in Woburn, Mass. Interment followed at Calvary Cemetery in Winchester, Mass.

The son of the late William and Catherine Coyne, he grew up in Somerville, Mass.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and saw action in the Rhineland and Central Europe from March of 1943 until March of 1946, a short time before Germany’s unconditional surrender.

For his courage and meritorious service in wartime, he was awarded the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and European/African/Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon.

He married Rita M. Rose, and they raised seven children. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this year.

After the war, he worked as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 25 years, mostly delivering mail in Burlington, Mass.

He enjoyed nature, walking, and serving his many friends and customers on his mail routes.

A humble man, he was proud of his children and enjoyed vacationing with his family at Grand Beach in Scarborough, Maine, where he liked to walk along the beach and go boating or sailing.

He attended Mass daily, and supported his wife, children and 13 grandchildren with unconditional love.

Bishop Coyne, apostolic administrator of the archdiocese, said his father “leaves his family with a wonderful example of living a life of humility, decency, faithfulness and commitment.”

Surviving in addition to his wife, Rita, and son, Bishop Coyne, are five children, Anne Marie Coyne of Woburn, Mass; Maureen Gillis of Franklin, Mass.; Patricia Silverman of New Milford, Conn.; Brian Coyne of Billerica, Mass.; and Daniel Coyne of Burlington, Mass.; as well as 12 grandchildren.

His son, Terrence Coyne, as well as three siblings and a granddaughter preceded him in death

Memorial gifts may be sent to St. Barbara Parish, 138 Cambridge Road, Woburn, MA 01801. †

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