Obituary of Joanne P. (O'Donnell) Coyle

Joanne Patricia O’Donnell Coyle, 88, of Colonial Park, PA, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 23, 2024, after a long and fruitful life. She is predeceased by her loving husband, Francis X. Sr. after 62 years of marriage and her grandson, Dominic. She is survived by her children Francis X. Jr, of Clearwater, FL, Martie (Frank) Kasnick, of Carmel, IN, John (Betsy) of Berwyn, PA and Mia (Mickey)of Wayne, PA and her grandchildren, Frank, Bridget, and Maeve Kasnick, Jack Coyle and Jake Dotzel. She was born on August 28, 1935, in upstate central Pennsylvania coal region town of Shenandoah, PA and was the daughter of the late Regis Cornelius and Catherine “Kit” (Carroll) O’Donnell. She was the loyal sister of her brother Gerald (Carol) O’Donnell of Harrisburg, Pa. Sister-in-law to Robert (Jane) Coyle, Maryann Coyle, Joe (Sandy) Coyle, and Susan (Matt) Dowling, all of the Philadelphia area. Joanne’s family moved to Mount Carmel, PA where she grew up and attended school at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School and was a proud nursing graduate of Misericordia (“Mercy”) Hospital’s Nursing Program run by the Sisters of Mercy in West Philadelphia, class of 1956. During her time at Misericordia, fate would intervene, as Joanne met and eventually married the love of her life Francis of Philadelphia, PA where they married in 1960. Joanne and Frank first met when Joanne answered a house phone call at the nursing dormitory where Frank was calling another girl for a date. Joanne’s proudest accomplishment and greatest joy was her marriage, children, grandchildren, extended family of cousins, nieces and nephews, and close relatives and life-long friends from Mount Carmel and nursing school. Joanne worked as a nurse for several years before beginning a family in 1961. She was a devoted mother and housewife for many years and returned to work when her children entered high school. Frank was a graduate of the US Naval Academy during his active service duty years, they lived on military bases in New London, CT, Bangor, ME and Fort Meade, MD. After Frank’s active-duty service, they settled in Harrisburg with their family, where they lived for 50+ years. Joanne and Frank welcomed Joanne’s mother into their home with the passing of her husband Regis where she lived for many years. Joanne was a faithful member of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Harrisburg, PA and devotee of the Virgin Mary and novenas to Saint Joseph. She was deeply proud of her Irish heritage and her country, her extended family and her friends. She was known for being very fashionable, her silly sense of humor, and was a fierce and competitive game player and notorious card shark. She loved Notre Dame (Go Irish!) and Penn State football, all animals great and small, in particular her dog Coco, roller coasters, music, Christmas, afternoon naps, coffee and toast with butter and strawberry jelly, vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate, shade not sun, dry land and not swimming, champagne, vacations with Frank to Ireland, Europe and Yellowstone and last, but not least, family vacations to Walt Disney World. She lived a life of love, kindness and devotion to God and her family. She was one of the good ones and will be missed. A viewing will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024, at 9:00AM at St. Margaret Mary Roman Catholic Church, 2800 Paxton Church Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110, with mass to follow at 10:00AM and burial immediately after mass at 11:30AM in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, 60 Indiantown Gap Road, Annville, PA 17003. In lieu of flowers and donations, the family is asking for donations to be made to the Saint Jude’s Children Research Hospital, “In Honor of Joanne P. Coyle”, of whom Joanne and Frank were proud supporters.