Mary Cecilia was born in New Haven, Kentucky, Dec. 10, 1911, the younger of two daughters to Charles J. and Mary Willie Hagan Coyle. The mother died when Mary Cecelia was 11 years old. The two girls assumed the many home responsibilities. They often were responsible for answering the phone or doorbell when their father, the sole undertaker in New Haven, was absent. In 1925, a good stepmother, Ethel Hagan, entered the girls’ lives and assumed the role of mother and homemaker.
Religious instruction, and morning and evening family prayer, were a regular part of her family life. In September 1917, she began her formal education at St Catherine School staffed by the Sisters of Loretto. In 1919, the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph replaced the Sisters of Loretto. At a very young age, Mary Cecilia entertained a desire to be a sister. By the time she was in high school, her Ursuline teachers had inspired her to seriously discern the call to religious life. In September 1929, Mary Cecilia entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. She received the habit and the name Sister Charles Marie, on March 19, 1930.
After Temporary Profession in 1932, she was missioned to Glennonville, Missouri, where she was stationed for four years. While at Glennonville, in March 1935, Sister was scheduled to make her Final Vows on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19, the traditional vow day for Mount Saint Joseph Ursulines. Due to flooding waters in Glennonville, Father Woods of Sikeston, who was appointed to conduct the ceremony, was unable to come to Glennonville until the next day. The Sisters and Father Peters enjoyed the free day with a grand feast at noon as planned. Early in the morning of March 20, Sister made vows and taught school all day.
In 1936, Sister was assigned to New Mexico. She spent a total of 38 years teaching in New Mexico at Farmington, Blanco, San Fidel and Albuquerque. She also taught at Calvary, Fredericktown, St. Francis, St. Charles and Mount Saint Joseph Academy in Kentucky. Sister served, with few exceptions, as parish organist in schools where she taught.
Sister returned to the Motherhouse because of ill health in 1992, actively participating in community life until her death the morning of March 22, 2003. The wake service was held Tuesday evening, March 25. Father Thomas Maikowski of Gallup, New Mexico, and Father Joseph Mills, Mount Saint Joseph chaplain, concelebrated the funeral Mass, Wednesday morning, March 26. Sister’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.