“Let us love, not with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.” -1 John 3:18
Sister Mary Jo Coyle, 94, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth (SCL) for 70 years, died May 19, 2026. Born Mary Josephine (Jo) Coyle on February 11, 1932, in Kansas City, Kansas, she was the daughter of Joseph Francis and Mary Agatha (née Ronayne) Coyle.
Mary Jo attended St. Mary’s Grade School and graduated from Bishop Ward High School in 1949, where she first encountered the care, guidance, and charism of the Sisters of Charity. She continued her education at Saint Mary College in Leavenworth, where Sisters again served as her teachers and mentors. Reflecting on those years, she once joked that she “probably was not the greatest model student, providing grey hairs for her mentors,” though she ultimately flourished academically. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and math from Saint Mary College in 1953 and later received a master’s degree in physics from the University of Notre Dame in 1968. Before entering religious life, she worked as an industrial chemist in Kansas City, Missouri.
Through her years of education and companionship with the Sisters, Mary Jo came to know the mission and spirit of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth more deeply. Alongside other young women discerning religious life, she entered the SCL Community on August 19, 1955, received the habit on February 19, 1956, and was given the name Sister Paul Joseph. She later returned to her baptismal name.
For much of her ministry, Sister Mary Jo served in Catholic education as a teacher and administrator. She taught chemistry, physics, and math at St. Pius X High School in North Kansas City, Missouri; Girls Central High School in Butte, Montana; Cathedral High School in Helena, Montana; Ward High School in Kansas City, Kansas; and Hayden High School in Topeka, Kansas. She later served as principal at Immaculata High School in Leavenworth, Hayden High School, and LeBlond High School in St. Joseph, Missouri. From 1985 to 1992, she taught at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Known as a brilliant and demanding teacher, Sister Mary Jo challenged her students to work hard and think critically. Her intelligence, sharp wit, and deep knowledge of science left a lasting impression on generations of students. In 1966, she was named Outstanding Young Educator in Kansas City, Kansas, by the Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees).
In the later years of her ministry, Sister Mary Jo devoted herself to housing and repair ministries serving older adults, people with disabilities, and families in need. Resourceful and remarkably skilled, she could fix almost anything and was often the first to arrive and the last to leave a work site. Friends described her as someone who naturally found a way to get things done.
One of the ministries closest to her heart was Christmas in October, where she helped organize and lead volunteer home-repair projects for people in need. She coordinated repairs, recruited volunteers, delegated work, and inspired many Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and others to join the effort. Her practical skills, leadership, and commitment made a lasting impact on countless families and communities.
In 1988, Sister Mary Jo traveled to Georgia to work on Habitat for Humanity’s Carter Work Project alongside former President Jimmy Carter. She later served with the Denver Archdiocesan Housing Committee in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, coordinated operations for Wyandotte Mental Health, secured and helped lead the Senior Housing Assistance Repair Project (SHARP), and assisted with maintenance work for convents and individuals in need. Her service earned her the Laudable Landlord Award from the Garfield County Housing Authority in 1995 and recognition as an All-Star Crew member for Christmas in October in 2000.
Beyond her ministries, Sister Mary Jo was a caring, generous, and loyal friend who would do whatever she could for someone in need. Those who knew her remember her as brilliant, practical, compassionate, and committed to living the mission of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. She also loved dogs and always had one or two rescue dogs by her side. She often mentioned that her goal in life was “to be the kind of person my dogs think I am.” In 2021, Sister Mary Jo moved to Ross Hall, where she continued a ministry of prayer, presence, and friendship.
Preceding her in death were her parents and her brother, Joseph Coyle Jr. Survivors include a niece, a nephew, extended family members, and the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.
A vigil service will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, 2026, in Ross Chapel at the Mother House in Leavenworth. A rosary will be prayed at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, May 10, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery on the Mother House grounds. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Retirement Fund, 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, KS 66048.
Click here to view a short video honoring the life of Sister Mary Jo.
