Dorothy E. Tierney

Dorothy E. Tierney, originally of Mattapan, MA passed away peacefully at home in Gilbert, AZ on February 25th, 2023. ‘Dottie’ to family and friends, and Mom to us, was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend to many over her 92 years. She met her high school sweetheart Joe Tierney at High Park High school and they married in 1950, honeymooning at Lake George, NY. After Joe began his career with Beneficial Finance Corporation, they began raising a family, starting with daughters Kathy and Karen. After working in Worcester, MA with Beneficial, Joe was promoted and they moved to Norwood, MA where they purchased their first home. Upon settling their baby boy, Jim into the Norwood schools, Dottie went to work for John Sexton and Company in administration, where she stayed until retirement. During their years together in Norwood, Dottie and Joe loved and raised their family, and developed many friends with whom they built life-long bonds. They became avid candlepin bowlers and card players, and spent many summer vacations at Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. After Norwood, they spent fifteen years in Medfield where Mom cultivated her rose garden. They took time to travel to warm, sunny places – such as the Bahamas – before retiring to Salinas, CA in 1989. Dottie loved her California life near the ocean, volunteering at the local hospital, attending church with her mother, Jen, being with Kathy and Karen’s families, taking trips to Las Vegas, Arizona, Hawaii, Ireland, and returning East to spend time with family and friends. Dottie had an award-winning smile, a gregarious laugh, and especially loved being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also loved working in her yard and spoiling all the cats she brought into her home over the years.

Bitter-sweetly for our family, Mom has now joined other loved-ones in Heaven – our dad Joe, her grandson Curran, her parents Jen and John Cronin, and many relatives and friends. She leaves behind her children Kathy and Bill Ritz, Karen and Jim Vawter, and Jim and Karen Tierney; grandchildren Billy and Amy Ritz, Jeffrey and Jess Ritz, and Peter Vawter; great-grandchildren Reaghann and William Ritz (from Billy and Amy), Beckham, Callie, and Paige Ritz (from Jeff and Jess), and Maelynn Rose Tierney (from Curran Tierney and Katelynn Riley).

Funeral arrangements are private. Our family requests those wishing to send flowers please consider donating in Dottie’s honor to the Friends for Life Animal Rescue in Gilbert, AZ (www.azfriends.org). We will be holding a Celebration of Life for Dottie in the Boston, MA area later this year.