A funeral mass was held April 17 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Perry for Dorothy Tiernan of Perry, who passed away April 10, 2017, at Ramsey Village Care Center in Des Moines. The Rev. Zach Kautzky officiated.
Dorothy was 89 years old and lived a life of faith in Christ, showing kindness to others throughout her life.
She was born in Marshfield, Mo., and was raised on a dairy farm as one of eight children of Louis Francis and Henrietta (Zigelhofer) Cologna.
Her strong work ethic and service to others was evident to anyone who knew her, caring for others with a smile on her face and Christ in her heart. She worked for the Perry School District for many years, driving a school bus and as a custodian, making connections with students, coaches and teachers.
Her volunteer service at St. Patrick’s took many forms over the years and continued well into her retirement.
She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, whether it was baking a treat or sharing coffee and prayers to bring comfort to others.
Dorothy married Robert Tiernan of Perry in 1952, and together they raised six children, Mary Anne Kinney of Des Moines, Barbara Fiori of Ogden, Larry (Paula) Tiernan of Cedar Rapids, Rose Marie (Tom) Griffin of Charlotte, N.C., Joe Tiernan of Phoenix, Ariz., and Tom (Kay) Tiernan of Arlington, Va.
Dorothy lived in Perry all of her adult life, including at Rowley Masonic Home in 2015 and much of 2016. She was at Ramsey Village in Des Moines since September 2016, where she received care for dementia and pneumonia.
Even as her health declined, she maintained a positive outlook on life and thought of others first.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; brothers, Louis Francis Jr., James Robert, Paul Henry and Herman George; sisters, Maxine Ash and Barbara Ann Rivera; and son-in-law, Ivan Kinney.
She is survived by a brother, Leo Cologna, of Marshfield, Mo.; her six children; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and an extended family of friends and relatives in several states.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Murdock Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
