Elizabeth “Liza” Coyne

Elizabeth “Liza” Coyne, 39, of McMurray, PA,  passed away on Monday, November 17, 2025 after a recent and unexpected battle with cancer.  Liza was born on March 24, 1986, in Redondo Beach, California.  She did not arrive alone…she was accompanied by her twin sister, McCall, automatically doubling the joy.

She is survived by her husband, Lucas.  They met in 2015 and married in 2019.  Also surviving are their two daughters, Andi (5) and Lucca (3).

Liza is the daughter of the late John Andy, Jr. of Virginia Beach, VA.  She is survived by her mother, Karen Herdman (Paul Pozonsky) of Canonsburg, sisters, McCall Murray (Chris) of Canonsburg and Brooke Andy (Charlie Anrecio) of Tampa, Florida. Also surviving are stepbrothers Garrett Herdman of Texas, and CJ Herdman of Ohio.  We would be remiss if we did not mention Kathy Retos who was like a mother to her and Kathy’s children, Kassandra, Nick, and Brandon who Liza lovingly referred to as siblings.  Also surviving are many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Liza grew up in Canonsburg and graduated from Canon McMillan High School.  She attended college in Pittsburgh at Carlow University graduating with a triple major in Accounting, Forensic Accounting and Business Management.  She later went on to receive her MBA in Human Resource Leadership from Waynesburg University.

She lived in Virginia Beach for 3 years and was employed as Senior Staff Accountant at USI Insurance Services, Norfolk.  In 2011 she took a position as Director of Operations at MacWhinnie Financial (Mass Mutual Agency), Pittsburgh, PA where she worked for Bob and Bobby MacWhinnie up until the time of her death. Mass Mutual described her as a phenomenal team player, problem solver and dedicated to doing what’s best for the practice.  She was appointed by agency staff to Sales Assistant Advisory Council to develop Sales Assistants and train New Business Coordinators.  For 12 years Liza worked alongside her mother at MacWhinnie Financial Group.  Their bond was unique and inseparable, so much so that they would leave work and talk on the phone on the way home.

Liza loved being a wife and an adoring mother.  She would FaceTime and talk with her mother and sisters every day, countless times a day.  She loved her family deeply.  Friends describe her as incredibly thoughtful and caring toward everyone.

Her passion and interest shone brightest in the kitchen where she made everything from  scratch including pasta, goldfish crackers/animal crackers, bread, bagels, English muffins,  chocolate syrup, vanilla extract and sauces just to name a few!  Cooking was her love language  and she taught Andi and Lucca right alongside her wearing their own aprons and using their own culinary tools.  Andi and Lucca would watch cooking shows with their mom in the evenings before bed.

She traveled to Italy many times over the years, even participating in cooking classes.  Italy was the birthplace of her father and he, Liza  and her sister, McCall, proudly held dual citizenship.

Her favorite movie was “A Few Good Men”.  She and McCall would FaceTime and sync the movie to watch it together.  She was a Jimmy Buffet fan from an early age of 7 and continued the hype by introducing Andi and Lucca to his music.   She loved taking the girls to  “Music in the Park” every Wednesday evening in Peterswood Park.

She was a huge fan of her hometown football team, Pittsburgh Steelers.  She not only loved the game but was remarkable at understanding the plays and the players.

Liza inherited from her mother the passion for decorating for every season and Andi and Lucca were right alongside her anxious to help and add their own special touches.

Liza and Lucas lived a life steep in traditions:  Every Friday night was Pizza, Family, Game/Movie Night.  In November they opened their home for Friendsgiving where they entertained friends who were considered family. She and her neighbors got together weekly to watch The Bachelor.  Monthly, the ladies in the neighborhood would round, hosting Girl’s Night. Multiple times throughout the year she and Lucas hosted Pasta Night with friends where they made pasta and ate the fruits of their labor.  She did all this because she valued the people around her.  They were her people…her tribe.

Liza leaves behind a legacy of warmth, kindness and the love that she poured into her family and friends.  She will be remembered lovingly and kept alive in their hearts and in their memories.

“Sickness is not my story, death is not the end, Jesus…you are”   Brandon Lake, Chandler Moore, Jonathan Jay

Family and friends are welcome on Friday, November 21, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Pittsburgh Cremation & Funeral Care, 3287 Washington Road, McMurray, PA, 724-260-5546.

There will also be an additional viewing on Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 9:00 AM until 10:30 AM at the funeral home.

A Celebration of Liza’s Life will be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 11:30 AM at Peters Creek Baptist Church, 6300 Library Road, South Park, PA 15129. If you plan to attend the Service, please meet directly at the church.

In lieu of flowers the family is accepting contributions to the children’s 529 education accounts.  Any checks should be made payable to College America FBO Andi Coyne and FBO Lucca Coyne. Checks can be mailed to MacWhinnie Financial Group, 1035 Boyce Road, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA 15241.