In memory of Carmela Valentina Coyne

Carmela was born in a small Filipino village as the middle of eight children. Petite yet feisty, her full name was then Maria Carmen Valentina Religioso. She soon adopted the name Carmela.

Her family was rather poor and her Dad could not afford to feed all eight children. Two were farmed out to relatives. Carmela at age 8 went to her uncle Dr. Pineda. She was well fed but felt rejected by her birth family. So she became a sort of rebel fighting for her identity.

At age 20 she began teaching high school math, known for her strict classroom manners. Some even called her the Tiger Lady. Later on she went on to teach college math and theology at Jesuit schools.

Carmela decided to try convent life in the 60s in Australia but it proved not her calling. Back to college and a Masters in statistics was next.

She and her mom took their first visit to the USA in 1979. They had family in California, NY, and NJ. Her mom went back but Carmela was content to stay. She prayed for two things: a job and a husband.

A job opening at a social agency garnered both. She became the agency statistician. Within that year she met an activist/social worker named Lee Coyne. They married in 1981 and railroaded on their honeymoon to DC and Florida.

Both were fascinated by travel. They took in 49 states, Mexico, Panama, and traveled Europe also.

Carmela changed careers and became activities director at several nursing homes. She did Zestercise and current events.

Always adoring education, she took a 2nd masters at age 61. Her focus was cross cultural aging. As a final project she inaugurated a middle school program for immigrant kids called Eldermentors. Retirees were recruited to help the foreign born students get attuned to the USA. It became a role model for others.

Carmela and Lee came here to Salem in 2002. She became a dedicated Toastmaster and was lector at St Joseph’s Church. She later developed dementia and died at the advanced age of 83.

—Lee Coyne