Ellen P. Coakley, founder of the Seton Centers Inc., died July 8
at age 90.
She founded the Seton Centers Inc. It was a program that helped
children with learning disabilities thrive in Catholic schools in various
locations throughout the Washington area. Thousands of children were able to
graduate high school and college. The mission of the Seton Centers was taken
over by the Diocese of Arlington in 2004.
The Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Agnes Church in
Arlington July 12. She was interred at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington.
Mass was celebrated by Father Thomas P. Ferguson, vicar general
and moderator of the curia, and concelebrated by Father Bob Cilinski, Father Gerald
Weymes, Father Jack Peterson and Father Joseph Rampino.
During his homily, Father Ferguson read a letter from Bishop
Michael F. Burbidge to the Coakley children that said in part: “So many benefited
from her tremendous generosity to Catholic education, cancer research and to
our Diocese especially those served by our Catholic Charities.”
Father Ferguson said, “Obituaries remembered Mrs. Coakley as an
entrepreneur and a philanthropist, but we remember her as a Christian and as a
steward of the many gifts and talents that God gave her,” he said. “In her
prosperity, she demonstrated the qualities of being a Christian and a steward
in her generosity to causes that continue the work of Jesus in teaching,
serving the poor and healing others. She did not seek to bring honor to
herself, but all that she did was for the glory of God and the service of
others.”
Coakley was born Feb. 9, 1929, in County Kerry, Ireland, and
immigrated to the United States in 1947. She and her husband co-founded the C.J.
Coakley Co. Inc. in 1962, a construction company specializing in interiors that
is still operating today.
She co-founded a second construction company, Dominion
Applicators Inc., in 1977, where she served as president until 1992.
Coakley also co-founded the Ellen P. & Cornelius J. Coakley
Family Foundation in 1992 and was the president until her death. The foundation
is dedicated to carrying on Ellen and Cornelius’ passion and legacy for causes
such as education, Catholic Charities and cancer research and cures.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cornelius J., and son,
John Kevin. She is survived by her daughter, Maria Coakley David, and
son-in-law James David; sons Cornelius James (Jim), Liam and Michael Coakley;
and daughters-in-law Caroline and Beth Coakley. She had 11 grandchildren, two
great-grandchildren with two expected later this summer.
Art Bennett, president and CEO of diocesan Catholic Charities,
said he wanted to stress that Coakley was a great philanthropist. "She was
very generous, as has been the whole family," he said. "We are
grateful for her generosity."