Mrs. Margaret Tiernan

September 5, 1921 – September 26, 2015

Margaret Demshock Tiernan, 94, passed away peacefully at her home, as a result of complications from end-stage Alzheimer’s disease, on September 26, 2015.

Margaret was a loving wife, mom, and noni. She leaves her devoted husband Frank of 67 years who loved and cherished her, and their five children and spouses: Michael and Amy Tiernan of Yorba Linda, CA; Robert Tiernan and Ridgely Ochs of Northport, NY; Patricia and James Hayden of Portland, ME; Mary and Edward Brough of Herndon, VA; and Barbara and Steve Ramsey of Middletown, MD. She also leaves many adoring grandchildren: Jayleen, Cary and his wife Karen, Will, Maggie, Patrick, Katie, Sam, and Anna.

The daughter of Michael Demshock, and Mary Matchek Demshock, she was born and raised in Hazelton, PA. After high school, she moved to Queens, NY and earned her nursing degree through Mary Immaculate Hospital. Margaret was a devout Catholic, praying the rosary every day. Instilling family values was very important to Margaret. Following the birth of her second child, Margaret became a full-time homemaker. She was a very creative person, and especially enjoyed sewing dresses for her daughters and costumes and Christmas stockings for her grandchildren. In her later years, as she and Frank adapted their daily lives to the progression of her Alzheimer’s disease, Margaret displayed a great sense of humor, bringing the gift of laughter to all around her. Her signature phrase was “I love you,” and that is how she greeted every person she met. Margaret will always be held close in our hearts and deeply missed by her family and friends.

A Eucharistic Celebration of the Life of Margaret Demshock Tiernan will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Silver Spring, MD. A brief visitation will be held prior to the Mass at 9:30 – 10:00. The burial service will follow the Mass at 1:00 p.m. at Mt. St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, MD.

In lieu of flowers, donations honoring her memory may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association (P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011 or www.alz.org) or to Montgomery Hospice (1355 Piccard Dr., Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850 or www.montgomeryhospice.org).