Thomas Tierney

FITCHBURG -- The Rev. Thomas M. Tierney, 64, of 240 Water St., died Sunday morning, Sept. 3, in the Life Care Center of Leominster after a short illness.

He was born in Clinton, on Aug. 16, 1942 a son of the late, Thomas W. and Mary A. (McDonald) Tierney, and has been in residence at St. Bernard’s Parish since 1987.

He graduated from Clinton High School in 1960 and then attended St. Philip Neri Preparatory School in Boston. He attended St. Charles Seminary in Catonsville, Md. from 1961 to 1964, and received his degrees in philosophy and theology from St. John’s Seminary in Brighton in 1970. He was ordained on May 16, 1970, in St. Paul’s Cathedral in Worcester by the late Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan.

The Rev. Tierney’s first assignment was at Holy Family of Nazareth Parish in Leominster, from 1970 to 1971. From 1971 to 1976, he served at St. Joan of Arc, Our Lady of Angels and St. Paul’s Parishes, all in Worcester. He served at Immaculate Conception Parish in Lancaster before becoming associate pastor of St. Stephen’s Parish in Worcester from 1977 to 1983. He then served as associate pastor at St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Westminster and St. Margaret Mary Parish in Worcester. In 1986, he became Chaplin at the North Central Correctional Institution in Gardner and has served in that capacity for the past 20 years.

The Rev. Tierney leaves a brother, Peter J. Tierney; a sister, Mary Chrysler, and her husband, John, all of San Diego; and many cousins. He is predeceased by a sister, Catherine A. Tierney of Clinton, who died in 1995.

TIERNEY -- A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, Sept. 8, at 11 a.m. in St. Bernard’s Church, 240 Water St. The Most Rev. Robert J. McManus will be the principle concelebrant. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery in Lancaster. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, Sept. 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the church. A wake service, in the church, will be held on Thursday evening at 7 p.m., celebrated by Bishop George E. Rueger. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Bernard’s Memorial Fund, 240 Water St., Fitchburg, MA 01420, or to the Diversified V.N.A., 25 Tucker Drive, Leominster, MA 01453. The Smith-Mallahy-Masciarelli Funeral Home, 243 Water St., Fitchburg is handling arrangements. www.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net.