Eileen M. Tierney

Eileen M. deBettencourt Tierney, 88, of Clinton, Connecticut, and formerly of Wallingford and Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, died Monday, September 22, 2025, following several years living with Alzheimer's dementia. Devoted wife of 55 years to the late Charles A. Tierney, Jr., and loving mother to Elizabeth Tierney Frommer (David Frommer) of Ellicott City, Maryland; Charles Tierney III (Gina Onushco) of Mount Hermon, Massachusetts; and Patricia Tierney Antúnez (Senén Antúnez Pineda) of Wallingford, Connecticut. Loving sister of Theresa Venoitte of Florida, Kathleen deBettencourt of Vermont, and sister-in-law Edel deBettencourt of California, and the late Thomas deBettencourt, John deBettencourt, Anne Clougherty, Rosemary Garvey, William "Bink" deBettencourt, Jr., Gerard deBettencourt, and Eileen's twin sister and duet partner Maureen Harabalja. Daughter of the late William, Sr. and Mary (Connor) deBettencourt. Grandmother to Andrew and Carolyn Frommer, Joaquín and Guillermo Antúnez Tierney, and Charles IV, Fiona, and Althea Tierney, and aunt to many nieces and nephews.
Eileen was one of 10 siblings who grew up on Martha's Vineyard in a family who blended Portuguese island traditions from the Azores with their Irish heritage from the marble quarries of Vermont. She excelled as a student, three-season athlete, and musician (flute and voice) in school on the Island and graduated from Framingham State Teacher's College in 1959. She held various jobs throughout high school and college, including farm hay truck operator, waitress toting trays of lobster dinners in Edgartown, and estate house manager in Vineyard Haven. Eileen was recruited after college to create and teach the home economics offerings at Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford, Connecticut, and later taught many years of cooking, baking, sewing, and common-sense skills at nearby Dag Hammarskjöld Middle School. She met the love of her life on a blind date and soon married Charlie in 1961. They began their 55 years together at 44 Christian Street, where they raised their family and always enjoyed their time with their wide network of neighbors, friends, and family.
Eileen also was a long-serving salesperson at Raymond's clothing store and shared her strong style sense with loyal customers as well as their husbands in search of last-minute gifts. She volunteered as a board member of the Visiting Nurses Association and was a devout member of the Most Holy Trinity parish, an early morning election poll worker, and multi-decade Red Cross blood donor. Eileen sang in Holy Trinity's choir for 50 years, performing solos at weddings and funerals. In her later years, Eileen pitched in on the church cleaning crew and hand-embroidered countless baptismal bibs for parish babies.
Eileen and Charlie avidly attended their children's various athletic contests, performances, graduations, and weddings (she made several wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses), while hosting memorable family holidays and gatherings. Then they attended the milestones of their seven grandchildren, enjoyed international travel and cruises, and cheered for the UConn Huskies each winter and the Red Sox every spring. Scores of needlework, quilting, and watercolor projects resulted from Eileen's creative impulses. And she inspired her family members to create welcoming homes, share meals as an expression of love, and greet all with a ready smile and song. Following several years as an engaged community member at Elim Park Independent Senior Living in Cheshire, Connecticut, Eileen embraced her last two years at Ocean Meadow Senior Living & Memory Care in Clinton, Connecticut. Eileen's family appreciates the entire staff at Ocean Meadow for their love and for making Eileen feel at home. And we thank the caring team at Hospice of Hartford Healthcare at Home.
Eileen's family will receive relatives and friends in The Wallingford Funeral Home, 809 N. Main St. Ext. on Saturday, October 18th, from 9:00 to 11:00 am when the funeral cortege will proceed to Most Holy Trinity Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 am. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery in Wallingford. Gifts in her memory may be sent to the Wallingford Public Library, 200 N Main St, Wallingford, CT 06492 (https://www.wallingfordlibrary.org/ways-to-give).