SIGUN BEDIA COYLE 1941-2019 “Think where man’s glory begins and ends, And say my glory was I had such friends.” - William Butler Yeats Sigun Coyle - a true friend. How to begin, what to say? How to follow in her footsteps, when she was everywhere? Kitchen, front desk, pastoral caring, lector, welcomer, usher, Junior Guild sales, knitting, and on and on. I met Sigun in 2003 when I joined the Junior Guild board. Sigun had just salvaged the Guild after a difficult period and was making it the organization we have been proud of ever since, using fellowship and hard work to bring (knit) together a group of women and men, primarily parishioners, mostly American and French, to raise funds through sales and lunches to support charities. For the Junior Guild's 90th anniversary, with Sigun as president and a Gala committee led by Dame Olivia de Havilland, we pulled off in the Cathedral nave an elegant formal dinner, remembered as the first such event at the Cathedral. Working with her on this and other projects makes me feel the void even more strongly. Sigun led in so many ways, a welcoming face and smile at the front desk or the narthex, a powerful lector in three languages, founder of the knitters, “Les Tricoteuses”, always ready to lend a helping hand. I always knew I could ask for help with Altar Guild duties, sewing and mending chasubles, linens, and curtains, and preparing the Christmas tapers. Her agile fingers were never at rest at the front desk. And a real friend, touchingly showing interest in my life and family, she fascinated us with her travel-logs, that made our mouths water with the details of the menus she and Joe shared each evening. Much love, Dear Sigun, - Harriet Rivière It is a measure of her deep and widespread involvement at the Cathedral that following her death, every- where I looked, it seemed Sigun would be, should be, smiling back: from the front desk greeting station, from the kitchen, from the parish hall, from the pews. It seems impossible that we will continue to func- tion as smoothly without her. Well, we won’t, most likely. But she has taught us a thing or two, and we will strive to meet her high standards. Sigun was strength and organization, clarity and character. She did not leave us in doubt as to her opinions, or to which was the best way to proceed. At the same time, she was kindness and respect, generosity and gentleness. And so she leaves us with all of those great gifts, shared so widely with her beloved Cathedral family. I know I will have much company in missing her. - Ellen Hampton What will the Junior Guild do without Sigun? Last February I brought some friends to the Cathedral to hear the concert of the Great American Songbook. Afterwards we jumped on the delicious food, which consisted of all sorts of tasty and varied amuse-bouches. When talking to Sigun during the reception, I learned that she had prepared everything! I'm a Friday Mission Lunch chef so I've learned a bit about cooking for a number of people, but this was a completely different feat. I didn't know Sigun very well, but I will miss her warm presence. She was so involved at the Cathedral, her smiling face was everywhere – as a lector and usher, in Adult Forum, at the Junior Guild, at the front desk, and anywhere someone needed help (no doubt my list misses half of what she did). When I saw her, her eyes would light up and she'd give me a little hug, spreading a bit of joy even on those days when we didn't have time to say much beyond hello. May Sigun rest in peace, and my sincere condolences go to Joe, who has lost a wonderful partner. - Bess Gonglewski It’s very hard to write about Sigun – because of sorrow, of course, because there are so very many memo- ries, and because she filled this Cathedral with her life and love and vitality. This last remains, even as we feel her absence acutely. Sigun and I had a lot of time together over the last six years. She was one of the very first people I met, since she was on the vestry and interviewed me for this position. The first party I was invited to here in Paris was given by Sigun and Joe. But I will write about the last major connection we had. Sigun was the driving force behind the accueillistes, the front-desk welcomers. As such, she not only served regularly at the desk, but she recruited volunteers, organized the schedules, and kept watch over her flock. So she was the one who noticed when Anthony Gavriloff did not turn up one Wednesday. The rest of us might not have paid attention; anything could have come up and he might have forgotten to call. But Sigun knew Anthony, and knew he didn’t miss his Wednesdays. She called and called and finally, on Thursday morning, went to his apartment. When there was no answer, she called the pompiers. She just didn’t give up and let it go. The pompiers and then the police found that Anthony had died in his apartment. I went over while she was waiting for the police, and the two of us stood in the hallway and talked and prayed for several hours. I just don’t know what would have happened without her. We had a funeral for Anthony here at the Cathedral, after Sigun had left for Santa Fe. She died before the funeral took place on July 11. We found that, despite all the rush of packing and leaving, she had left a donation for a reception at his funeral. That was so very typical of her. Her kindness stunned Anthony’s sister, who was already so grateful to her, and it left the rest of us in tears. Sigun will always be a part of the spirit of this Cathedral. May we all learn from her how to walk in love. - Lucinda Laird I saw Sigun as a rock and pillar in our Cathedral community and beyond. One of my favorite Sigun memo- ries was during a luncheon at the Cathedral. Joanne and I accidentally overloaded the dumbwaiter while shuttling food to the parish hall where 50+ women were gathered. This was before the Together in Faith capi- tal campaign and the dumbwaiter was temperamental and the kitchen was still in the basement. It came crashing to the bottom, sending several plates shattering into servings of the main course. I was new to the Cathedral and horrified. Although I was new I had been there long enough to know, however, that it was as much the Cathedral's kitchen as it was Sigun's! We looked to her, expecting a "head chef" scolding but she was very gracious – knowing that we'd likely be short of food at the luncheon. We lightened the other por- tions, doubled up on bread and all was ok. She was the perfect embodiment of grace, firmness and love. I will miss her very much. I'm grateful that my son, Felix, has the quillow made by Sigun, Jill, Elizabeth and Mary Lou in the theme of My Father's Dragon as a wonderful family memento of a wonderful woman. - Katherine Millen Worrell Amitiés. In friendship. I will forever associate this salutation with our sister and friend Sigun. She always signed her correspondence with this mark of affection. It impressed me from the first time I received a note from her, as being so very much who Sigun was: friend to all, welcomer in, champion of those on the outside looking in. A true expression of faith, Christian love and human kindness, all wrapped up in one word that you always knew came from the depths of her heart. I am blessed to have crossed paths in this life with this beautiful person. May God bless our dear Sigun. - Thomas Girty We really were saddened to learn of Sigun's death, though our certainty that she is now joyfully in the Lord's presence does give us peace. Our hearts go out to Joe, who must bear her loss. Sigun was full of life, full of vigor, full of integrity. I wasn't able, during my years as Canon at the Cathedral, to see her and Joe as much as I would have wished, but our moments spent together – and our meals, so full of laughter and fine cuisine! – were precious for me and Victoria. Thank you, Sigun and Joe! And, when the time comes, may we all meet again in the fullness of God's Kingdom! - George and Victoria Hobson An image pops into my mind every time I think of Sigun, of the day she was going for a haircut just a few days before. She was walking down Otero street and I passed her in my truck. The image is of her sweet walk like a young girl, arms swinging, slightly pigeon-toed, face up to the sun, enthusiasm and delight. I hold onto that one. - Annie Lindberg From the moment that I read the announcement that Sigun had died, her voice, both in English and French, has been with me almost constantly. Her face and physical presence is also very much in my thoughts. Her absence is deeply felt, and particularly on the 92 bus at Saint François-Xavier where we oc- casionally would run into each other.