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Rev. Patrick Joseph Coyne

1928-2015

Rev. Patrick Joseph Coyne

The death of Father Patrick Joseph Coyne, a priest of the Diocese of Saint John, occurred Thursday, December 10, 2015, at the Turnbull Nursing Home in Saint John, NB. Father Coyne was born in St. Stephen on March 17, 1928, one of eight children born to Victor George and Margaret (Conway) Coyne. After graduating from St. Stephen High School in 1945, he worked for five years before enrolling in St. Thomas College, Chatham, from where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954. He then entered Holy Heart Seminary in Halifax, NS, for theological studies. Father Coyne was ordained in his home parish, Holy Rosary Church, St. Stephen, on May 15, 1958 by the Most Reverend Alfred B. Leverman, Bishop of Saint John. He spent the next eleven years as a curate to Monsignor Simon Oram at St. John the Baptist Parish, Saint John. These were years that deeply formed him in his understanding of the priesthood and parish life. He was then appointed pastor of St. Pius X Parish, Saint John, in 1969 where he served until 1983. Under his leadership at St. Pius X, a large debt for the parish church and two schools was retired. He then served as Pastor of Stella Maris Parish, Saint John, until 1987 at which time he became of Pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Saint John, where he served until his retirement in 1994. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Father Coyne also served as a member and chair of the Priests’ Council, a member of the College of Consultors and a member of the Board of Directors of the New Freeman. Over the years he has also been asked to chair special diocesan committees in preparation for the 1987 Marian Year and on the Role of Women in the Church. Father has always had a great interest in learning and has continued to read widely, with a special love for works on Sacred Scripture. In the early seventies, he undertook a sabbatical where he earned a Master of Arts degree in Sacred Scripture from the University of Detroit, deepening his love for Sacred Scripture. Over the years he has shared his love of reading with many others who became lifelong friends. Father has also been a skilled painter and died surrounded by some of his work as well as that of some of his family, friends, and local artists. Father was a great outdoors enthusiast and walker and walked part of the Camino de Santiago in Spain at the age of seventy-five. Father Coyne was a quiet man with a great intellect and love of learning, a deep spirituality, a faithfulness to his friends and a real love for the people he served. He was loved and respected by all and will be deeply missed.

Father Coyne is survived by his sister, Veronica Bourque, of Fredericton, his sister-in-law, Marie Coyne, of St. Stephen and by nephews and niece Michael Coyne, Jerome Coyne, Patrick Coyne, David Coyne, Kathy Gregor, Patrick Bourque and Kevin Bourque as well as by several grand-nephews and a grand-niece.

He was predeceased by his parents, his brothers James, Phillip, Jack, Louis and Fred, all of whom were veterans of the Second World War, and his sister, Mary.

Father Coyne will be resting at the Cathedral Residence, 91 Waterloo Street, Saint John, on Monday, December 14, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. His body will be translated to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Monday evening for Solemn Vespers at 7:00 pm followed by visitation. Father's Funeral Mass will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Robert Harris, Bishop of Saint John, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday, December 15 at 10:00 am. Interment will take place at a later time in the Milltown Roman Catholic Cemetery, Milltown, NB.

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Service Date
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Service Time
10:00 AM
Service Location
Cathedral of Immaculate Conception

Visitation
Monday, December 14, 2015
Visitation Time
2-4 and 7-9 PM
Visitation Location
Cathedral Rectory

Burial Location
Milltown Cemetery at a later date

Requested Charity
None