Florence M. (Burgess) Coyne

Florence Mary Burgess Coyne left a two-year-old laptop and a well-used Scrabble board when she died peacefully at home at the age of 97, on Sunday, December 19, 2021. 

She and her late husband, Robert Vincent Coyne, who were married for 64 years, had eight children:  the late Mary Anne, Eileen (Chuck) Mares, the late John, Robert (Margaret), Sally (Ed Malecki), Linda (the late Rick) Mancuso, Margie (the late Tom Quinn), Judy (John) Williams, and her beloved niece, Suzanne (David) Schaefer. 

Her grandchildren are Mary Kate Mares Roberts, John Mares, Michael Mares, Patrick Coyne, Michael Coyne, Jack Coyne, Kate Coyne, Ivan Malecki, Neysa Malecki Condron, Jesse Malecki, Eric Malecki, Maureen Malecki Zinsmeister, Erin Mancuso Hart, Spencer Quinn, Declan Quinn, Emma Williams, Michael Williams, Gennie Williams, and Suzanne’s children:  Stephen Schaefer, Holly Schaefer, and Randy Schaefer.  She also had 13 great grandchildren.

Florence will be missed by her devoted brother, Jerry Burgess, and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

She was the only daughter with five brothers of Andrew and Mary Healy Burgess.  Jack, Hugh, Milton, and Albert Burgess were her late brothers.  She became the center of a large extended family, hosting holiday dinners and her famous Sunday brunches full of lively discussions, stories, and laughs.  Her home on Beechview Avenue was a welcoming haven to family and friends, including annual visits from relatives in Canada.  Everyone hoped to have a slice of her famous apple pie.

You may have known Florence when she worked at S & H Green Stamps on West Liberty Avenue or Johns’ Drug Store on Beechview Avenue.  She was the first president of the Beechview Community Council, a founding member of Beechview Manor, belonged to two book clubs, was the judge of elections, and bowled in several leagues.  At St. Catherine’s in Beechview she served for 25 years as president of the 300 Club, was the first female to be a lector and eucharistic minister, served on church council, always chaired a booth at Nationality Day, and was the chairperson of the annual church festival. She was honored by the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 2001 when she received the Manifesting the Kingdom award.  In her spare time she played Words With Friends, did jigsaw puzzles, crosswords, crocheted, and read all of the mysteries they had at the library.

On Wenzell Avenue under the trolley bridge you can see a mural of five-year-old Flo and her beloved cousin, Mary Farmerie, who died a few months ago.  They were best friends their whole lives.

Friends received Tuesday, December 28, 2021, from 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. at BRUSCO-NAPIER FUNERAL SERVICE, LTD., 2201 Bensonia Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216.  Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, at 10 a.m. in St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish – St. Catherine of Siena Church, 1810 Belasco Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216.  Inurnment private.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to her church, St. Teresa of Kolkata Parish, 1810 Belasco Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15216. 

***Due to COVID concerns, the family requests that unvaccinated visitors wear a mask out of an abundance of caution.***

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