Obituary of Barbara "Red" Tierney

Barbara “Red” (Cratty) Tierney, 96, wife of the late John F. Tierney,  died peacefully on Wednesday, August 8, 2018. She was born in Rockville on November 24, 1921, the daughter of John and Ann (Tallon) Cratty. She was the first baby ever born at Rockville Hospital. 

A lifelong resident of Manchester, Barbara was very involved in the community. In 1956, Barbara and her husband Johnny founded the John F. Tierney Funeral Home. She became a licensed funeral director and stayed licensed until her death making her the oldest funeral director in the state of Connecticut. 

Barbara was a lifetime member of the Manchester Emblem Club and volunteered for several years at the Manchester Memorial Hospital Penny Saver. As a devout catholic, she was actively involved with the Church of the Assumption and until her death, acted as a trustee at the church.  Barbara was also a charter member of the Ladies of The Assumption. In addition, The Archdiocese of Hartford awarded Barbara with the St. Joseph Medal of Appreciation in recognition of her dedication to her Catholic faith.

Barbara found great joy spending time with her family and friends. She was a true sports fan, a huge UCONN Women’s Basketball fan and an avid New York Yankee fan. Barbara enjoyed bingo at the church, rummikub with the girls, playing cards, trips to Saratoga, breakfast at Chez Ben with church friends and in her younger days, playing golf and traveling to Florida with her cherished sister Mary. In more recent years, she loved nothing more than holding and being surrounded by her eight great grandchildren, who lovingly referred to her as GG.

Barbara is survived by her three children and their spouses, Thomas F. and Kathleen Tierney of Manchester, William and Julie Tierney of Lake Oswego, OR and Patricia and Kevin Murray of Bayville, NY; her grandchildren Jennifer Tierney (Nick Lawson), Thomas J. Tierney (Jana), Julie Reinecke, Patrick Murray (Cristina), John Tierney (Alison), Julia Tierney (Joe McClain), Corrine Fitzgerald (Eddie) and Colin Murray; her great-grandchildren Cora, Jane, William, Dylan, Quinn, Callan, Sebastian and Jude and many nieces and nephews. Barbara is also survived by many treasured friends. Besides her parents and husband, Barbara was predeceased by her sister Mary Taylor and her brother Jack Cratty. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday August 14th at 11:00 AM at the Church of the Assumption, 29 Adams St. South, Manchester. Burial will follow at St. James Cemetery, Manchester. Family and friends may call at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home, 219 West Center St., Manchester, on Monday August 13th from 3:00-7:00 PM.  Red’s family would like to thank the staff at Manchester Manor for their dedication and care throughout her final days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. James School Annual Fund, 73 Park St. Manchester, CT. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.