Obituary of Mildred Alice Coyne

Mildred Alice Coyne, 99, of Englewood, Florida passed away peacefully at Inglenook Assisted Living Facility for Ladies in Englewood, Florida on Sunday, August 23, 2020. Mildred Alice Beard was born January 7, 1921 to Albert and Sarah (Hibbert) Beard in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Until her relocation to Florida to live near her daughters in 2017, Mildred had been a lifelong resident of New England, spending time in Massachusetts and Connecticut. After graduating from high school in New Bedford, she became a governess to a family on Nantucket and there got to work alongside the man who would become the love of her life. In June 1942, she married that man, E. Patrick Coyne. During World War Two, she proudly served her country by working in a torpedo factory in Newport, Rhode Island. After the War, she and Pat moved to Connecticut and started their family. With four children born in Connecticut, the family moved back to New Bedford. There, Mildred rejoined the workforce, ultimately retiring from a position in the Registrar's Office at Southeastern Massachusetts University (now the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth). Having lived through the impoverished times of the Great Depression and the tumult of the Second World War, and after both losing parents during their childhoods, Millie and Pat provided for their four children a loving, warm, and welcoming home, always secure in the love of their family. Mildred spent most of her adult life as a communicant of St. James Church in New Bedford. She was a proud member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society, devoting many hours of labor in support of the less advantaged. Earlier in life, she had been an active member of the Whaling City Post VFW Auxiliary. She was also an active member of the Mt. Carmel Seniors Club, the St. James Seniors Club, and the Dartmouth Council on Aging. However, Millie was always happiest when spending time with family. At the annual Fourth of July family reunions, at every family holiday party, at countless school graduations and stage performances of her grandchildren (many faithfully attended thousands of miles distant), Millie was an enthusiastic supporter of those she loved and who loved her in return. She was very proud to be "friends forever" of her special great grandson Christopher. Those left to cherish the memory of Millie include her daughters: Nancy (Jim) Mosley, H. Penny (Bruce) Lima, Mary-Anne (Tom) Sheppard, all of Rotonda West, FL and her son Edmund (Bernadette) Coyne, MD of Bettendorf, IA; granddaughters: Sue Knight, Barbara White, Christine Ryan, Melanie Cole, Lauren Coyne, Jennifer Lourenco, Alison Sheppard, Julie Smith, and Elizabeth Anderson; and twenty great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Pat, her parents, and her seven siblings. May they all rest in peace. A private family ceremony will be held in Florida with a memorial to be held in Massachusetts at a later date. The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful staff of the Inglenook Assisted Living Facility for Women, where the final years of our mother's life were spent in a dignified and caring environment. Englewood Community Funeral Home with Private Crematory has been selected to handle arrangements. You may share a memory with the family at www.englewoodfh.com