In March this year, many of us lost a faithful and inspiring friend. As she approached her death, the calm dignity and confidence in God’s loving faithfulness exhibited by Ann Coyle and her family encouraged many of us to grow even deeper in our faith. We thank the Coyle family and CiS for letting us reproduce the following celebration of Ann’s life of love for God and His creation, published in the CiS PreCiS newsletter earlier this year. We remain indebted to Ann for her part in establishing the Bible and Science Worcester group, that is now affiliated with CiS.
The Organising Committee: Kim Stansfield, Chris Shepherd, Geoff Pritchard, Colin Reed, Jim Smith
Ann Coyle – A Faithful Friend and Inspiration
‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Ann Coyle, a valued member of the organising committee of the Worcester CiS group. Ann passed away peacefully on the 28th of March following a two year battle with cancer.
Ann always had a strong love for nature and took great delight in all things animal. Much of her life was spent searching for, observing, keeping and teaching about animals; from caterpillars and stick insects to rats, cats and dogs. She loved to discover more about the natural world and found great joy in sharing that passion with others.
Ann fell in love with Jesus whilst at University studying Zoology and Psychology with her focus on animal behaviour. Throughout her life her faith and love for God grew, impacting and encouraging countless others. As her relationship with the Creator deepened, she sought to understand His relationship with His creation and the science which describes it so well.
For many years, Ann’s exploration of the interaction of science and faith was conducted without the benefit of many of the excellent resources available today. As a result, she was passionate in her support of CiS and other groups which facilitate those exploring the science and faith dialogue.
Over the last few years, her support took on a more official role as she helped to build, grow and organise the Worcester ‘Bible and Science’ discussion group which became affiliated with CiS last year. She was a highly valued member of the team and the wider CiS community and will be greatly missed for her organisation, enthusiasm, encouragement, and the unfailing joy and faith with which she praised Jesus in every circumstance.
During the two years of her illness, Ann’s unshakable faith and joy in Jesus became even clearer. She tirelessly went out of her way to love, bless and pray for others, honestly sharing her own struggles and relentlessly praising and glorifying God. Throughout this time particularly, she was a profound inspiration to her many friends and the countless others who heard her story.
Ann’s battle with cancer ended in the profound and joyous knowledge that she had completed the race she had been running with Jesus since she found Him at the age of 19. She died as she had lived, safe in the knowledge that she was in the loving hands of the God who she had known and loved for so many years, seeking to honour and glorify Him in everything she had done.
Whilst there is sadness, there is also great peace for Ann’s family and friends who rejoice with her that she is now, finally, truly home with our Father in heaven, hearing those words, “Well done, good and faithful one”.
Those who have been close to Ann during this time rejoice in the truth of this passage which Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The only victory in this belongs to Jesus and those who choose to share in it.
Ann will be fondly remembered as a passionate nature-lover, a caring friend, a tireless and efficient worker, a loving wife and mother and so much more. Above all, Ann’s life beautifully reflected the love she had for God and the joy she knew in knowing His love for her. We rejoice with her as she celebrates with the One who made her.’
