Obituary of Marie F. (Coyle) Fennessey

Marie F. (Coyle) Fennessey, 91, of Peabody, wife of the late Arthur J. Fennessey, died Sunday evening at the Salem Hospital after a brief illness. Mrs. Fennessey was born April 11, 1915 in Peabody, daughter of the late Michael J. and Fannie A. (Gilroy) Coyle. She was raised and was a lifelong resident of Peabody. Mrs. Fennessey graduated from St. John’s Girls High School, pursued her education at Emmanuel College receiving her B. A. in Education in 1936. In 1950, she earned a Master of Science Degree from Boston University. Marie Fennessey was inducted as a new member into the Peabody Veterans Memorial High School Hall of Fame with an April 28, 2006 ceremony for her 31 years as a Science Teacher at PHS. In her final years at PHS, she served as acting Science Department Head until her retirement in 1972. The PVMHS Distinguished Career Hall of Fame founded in 2006 was established to recognize staff members who have made significant contributions to the school and the City of Peabody. Mrs. Fennessey was regarded as the matriarch of the family and also as a friend to everyone. She was a member of St. John’s Ladies Sodality, the North Shore Catholic Charities and the Essex Retired Teachers Association. She is survived by 4 nephews, Bernard Coyle Jr. and his significant other Susan Noble, David Coyle and his significant other Kathy Stewart, John and his wife Mary Coyle and William and his wife Susan Coyle; 4 nieces and their husbands, Jane Martinez, Charlotte and Ray Fontaine, Patricia and Henry Bedard, Mary Ellen Fennessey and Ron Kersey; many grand nieces and grand nephews. Her siblings John, Leo, George, Francis and Bernard Coyle and her nephew Donald Coyle pre deceased her. Her funeral will be held on Saturday January 27, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 20 Church St., (downtown location) Peabody followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in St. John the Baptist Church, 16 Church St., Peabody. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours Friday 2 to 4 & 6 to 8 p.m. Burial in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the Sisters of Notre Dame Retirement Fund, 30 Jeffrey’s Neck Rd., Ipswich MA 01938.