Mrs. Virginia (Reiss) Tiernan of Andover, beloved wife of the late William Tiernan, died on June 17, 2007. She was 96 years old.
Born to Albert and Mary (McElerhan) Reiss, in Rochester, New York in 1911, she was one of six children.
Virginia and William lived most of their lives in Rochester, New York, where Virginia devoted her energies to her home and family. In her early years, she played and taught piano and was an organist for Holy Cross Church. She excelled at many of her interests along life’s way, including knitting, her rose gardens, flower arranging and baking. Her interests also included volunteer work for very ill patients.
In 1976 she and her husband retired to Phoenix, Arizona, where her sister Mary and brother Bill also lived. Her days there were enriched by her enjoyment of golf and the many prizes she won in various tournaments. She was renowned for walking the course while many, younger than she drove their carts. She and William relocated to the Andover’s in 1993. Virginia remained youthful, curious and involved in the events of life for all the years she lived. As the last member of her family to survive, she was cherished in her final days by her nephews and nieces.
She was loved by her daughters, Julie and her husband Allen Hugh of Washington, DC and Sheila and her husband, Maurice Balboni of Andover as well as five grandchildren; Elise Balboni and her husband, David Saltonstall, Jessica Balboni, Reiss Allen, Erica and her husband Vincent Bridgeman and Leslie Allen and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were private. Donations in Virginia’s memory may be made to the Melanoma Research Foundation, 24 Old Georgetown Road, Princeton, NJ 08540; www.melanoma.org.