50 years ago: The passing of Betty Tierney, beloved sister, talented seamstress

Elizabeth "Betty" Tierney was born on January 11, 1881 at 78 Cross in Boston's North End, the third child of Patrick J. and Catherine (Kennedy) Tierney. She was baptized at historic St. Stephen's Catholic Church on Hanover Street. Both of Betty's parents' childhoods were lived in Ireland during the most difficult years of the famine, but they managed to survive those difficult years and make a good life for themselves and their seven children after immigrating to Boston.

The Tierney family moved to Quincy around the turn of the century just before their father Patrick's death (and during Betty's teen years). They lived for many years in a home on Gay Street that was purchased by their mother, Catherine Tierney. They were supported in part by Betty's work as a seamstress. Betty never married and lived with her mother until her mother passed away in 1934. The household had grown when Betty's younger sister Margaret and her five children moved in after Margaret's husband George W. McCue died at the young age of 37 in 1923.

Long-time home of the Tierney and McCue families: 32 Gay Street, Quincy, Massachusetts

The two sisters remained close throughout their lives, living together at 32 Gay Street and both remaining active at St. John's Parish down the street from their home.

Sisters and housemates Margaret (Tierney) McCue (my great-grandmother) and Betty Tierney died within a little over a year from each other. Margaret passed away on January 10, 1963.

Betty's obituary appeared in the Quincy Patriot Ledger on Saturday, March 14, 1964. She had passed away at Quincy City Hospital after being hospitalized for a stroke on Tuesday, March 10, 1964. She was buried in New Calvary Cemetery, Boston.

Below is my transcription of Betty's obituary:

Miss Elizabeth Tierney 

QUINCY – A high mass of requiem was celebrated Friday in St. John’s Church for Miss Elizabeth T. Tierney, 83, of 28 Gay Street [this is incorrect; she resided at 32 Gay Street], South Quincy, by the Rev. Mark F. Sheehan. Miss Phyllis Ross was organist and Mrs. Abbie Hines, soloist.

Seated in the sanctuary was the Rt. Rev. John A Broderick of St. John’s Seminary, Brighton. Monsignor Broderick’s early parental home was at 48 Gay Street, near the Tierney home.

Miss Tierney was a member of a large shipbuilding family and had lived in Quincy for over 70 years. She was stricken at home Tuesday and died an hour later in the Quincy City Hospital. She was born in Boston.

The cortege from the Joseph Sweeney Funeral Home was headed by her nephew, Sgt. Maj. Leo E. Tierney Jr., recruiting officer here for the U.S. Marine Corps. A delegation from the Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality, of which Miss Tierney was a member, was led by Mrs. Everett J. Bracchi, president.

Committal rites in New Calvary Cemetery, Mattapan, were conducted by the Rev. Leo X. Lynch of St. John’s parish.

Survivors include a brother, Leo E. Tierney Sr. of West Quincy; nephews John McCue of Mattapoisett, George McCue of Massapequa, N.Y.; nieces Mrs. Helen Splaine of Norwell, Mrs. Mary Primiano of Braintree, and Mrs. Margaret McFadden, at home.

Elizabeth "Betty" Tierney is buried at New Calvary Cemetery (Mattapan) in Boston along with the following family members: her mother Catherine J. (Kennedy) Tierney, her sister Catherine J. Tierney, her sister Margaret (Tierney) McCue, and her brother-in-law George William McCue. The family's plots are listed on Find A Grave. Visit Betty's Find A Grave page here.

This article was written in remembrance of my great-aunt Betty Tierney's passing fifty years ago. For similar stories about my ancestors and more images of their obituaries, visit my Pinterest boards.

I have also posted this article as part of GeneaBloggers' weekly blogging prompt Sunday's Obituary. Visit Thomas MacEntee's GeneaBloggers blog and also see his Sunday's Obituary board on Pinterest for more similar stories.