Mary-Lou K. Coyle

Mary-Lou was born on January 9,1937 at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Connecticut. She grew up and attended schools in Shelton, Connecticut, raising two children as a single mother until she met the love of her life, Francis, " Buzz," Coyle. Mary-Lou and Buzz married in 1976 making their home in Litchfield, Connecticut. Mary-Lou was devoted to Buzz. They were inseparable until his death in 2015.

Mary-Lou graduated valedictorian of her senior class at Shelton High School and attended Southern Connecticut State University before going to work for the Southern New England Telephone Company at age 16. She started as a switchboard operator and later advanced to a variety of positions throughout the state. After 33 years of service with SNET, Mary-Lou retired in February of 1987. She and Buzz moved to Marco island, Florida and summered at their vacation home on Cape Cod.

Anyone who knew Mary-Lou knows she never stayed idle for long. A year after retiring from the telephone company at the age of 49, she started a second career (which she enjoyed tremendously) as an innkeeper and group reservation coordinator at the Old Sea Pines inn in Brewster, Massachusetts. Mary-Lou was a devoted Roman Catholic and attended Holy Trinity Church in West Harwich. ln Florida, she was on the board of directors of her condominium association and volunteered with the American Cancer Society. She also volunteered at San Marco Catholic Church, helping immigrant children learn English. She always rooted for the underdog and believed strongly in a good education. She was a member of the Marco island Woman's Club and life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary, Brown James Buck Post 8607, Chatham, Massachusetts.

Mary-Lou would often take older neighbors under her wing, helping them get to appointments and tackle other tasks. Staying organized and getting things done were paramount to Mary Lou, who was once called "the General," a nickname that stuck for obvious reasons. This sweet little lady was a force to be reckoned with.

Mary-Lou is survived by her children, Claire Casci of Massachusetts, Raymond Casci of Connecticut; and stepdaughter Jill Coyle of Maine; her granddaughters Megan Matyjasik of Massachusetts, and Nicole Matyjasik of Connecticut; and her great grandson Coran Dillard of Massachusetts, whose fondest memory of his "GiGi" is of when they went apple picking together during a school field trip (Never one to shy away from an opportunity to educate, she was once spotted on Coran's new Big Wheel showing him how to drive it around the cul-de-sac where they lived.) She is also survived by her step grandchildren Jaime Coyle of Colorado, Joshua Coyle of Texas, and Timothy Coyle of Massachusetts.

ln addition to Buzz, Mary Lou was predeceased by her parents, Clara Travis Klimeric and Stanley Klimeric, Sr.; her brother; Stanley Klimeric, Jr.; her stepchildren Douglas Coyle (Carroll) and Pamela Coyle; and her grandson Mark Casci.

Her family cannot express enough gratitude to the best, most loving group of caregivers on Earth. Thank you Donna, Tristan, Sheila, Lorraine, Kelli, Joanne and Reychel from the bottom of our hearts. Mary-Lou loved you ladies.

A special thanks to Mary-Lou's loving and dedicated granddaughter Megan Matyjasik for caring for Mary-Lou in her own home these past 5 years. You sacrificed much to be there for your Gram.

Visiting hours will be held 9:30 am to 10:30 am on March 15, 2024 at Nickerson Funeral Home, 87 Crowell Rd., Chatham, followed by a funeral Mass at 11am at the Holy Trinity Church, 241 Main Street, West Harwich. The burial will be at 1:45pm in the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne.

ln lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SIDS Foundation of America or the American Cancer Society.