1955
Ellen
2024
Ellen Tiernan
January 18, 1955 — June 15, 2024
Ellen Michelle Tiernan-Iwai was born on January 18, 1955, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. She passed away on June 15, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois, surrounded by her family. Ellen was married to Ken Iwai on May 27, 1993. She loved gardening, watercolor painting, spending time with friends, traveling, and camping trips with her husband and family. She published three short stories, encouraging readers to think about life’s meanings through epiphanies and understand how trials can make them better people.
Ellen graduated from Stuart-Menlo High School in Stuart, Iowa, in 1973. After high school, she attended Patricia Stevens (now the Institute of Business and Arts) in Omaha, Nebraska. Later, she studied theater and education at the College of DuPage. She earned a BA in English/secondary education at Northeastern Illinois University in 1990 and a MA in Communication from Northeastern University in 2000. She was a dedicated Chicago public high school teacher who taught English and other subjects for over twenty years.
Ellen is survived by her husband, Ken Iwai, Chicago, Illinois, Christopher Tiernan (Kathy Corbin) of Marshalltown, Iowa, Angela Buskohl (Randy See) of Rowley, Iowa, Shane (Cathy) Tiernan of Polk City, Iowa, Laura (Scott) Dankof of Westcliffe, Colorado, Nancy (Dennis) Munro of Wheaton, Illinois, Martha (Don) Scheckel of Beltsville, Maryland, William Robert Jr. (Eliziane) Tiernan of Marshalltown, Iowa, Sara (Sam) Reichart of Ankeny, Iowa, Rachel (David) Tegeler of Des Moines, Iowa, brother-in-law Bruce Otto of Grinnell, Iowa, sister-in-law’s Margaret Tiernan of Stuart, Iowa and Donna Miller of Winfield, Missouri, as well as her niece Mitsuko Takeuchi of San Francisco, California. Ellen is also survived by 46 nieces and nephews, 61 great nephews and nieces and eight great, great nephews and nieces.
Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, William and Joanne Tiernan, sister Colleen (Tiernan) Otto, brothers Eric Tiernan, Thomas Tiernan, and Peter Tiernan, Her father and mother-in-law, James and Masako (Harada) Iwai, and sister Janet Iwai Tacheuchi.
Ellen was a creative and vibrant woman who was kind, generous, and always eager for life's adventures. She was the family historian and loved learning about her family to preserve their heritage. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Visitation for Ellen will take place on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm and Thursday from 10:00 am until the time of funeral service at 11:00 am at Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. Norridge, Il. Interment will follow at Acacia Park Cemetery in Chicago. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago, https://irish-american.org/donate-online/
Ellen graduated from Stuart-Menlo High School in Stuart, Iowa, in 1973. After high school, she attended Patricia Stevens (now the Institute of Business and Arts) in Omaha, Nebraska. Later, she studied theater and education at the College of DuPage. She earned a BA in English/secondary education at Northeastern Illinois University in 1990 and a MA in Communication from Northeastern University in 2000. She was a dedicated Chicago public high school teacher who taught English and other subjects for over twenty years.
Ellen is survived by her husband, Ken Iwai, Chicago, Illinois, Christopher Tiernan (Kathy Corbin) of Marshalltown, Iowa, Angela Buskohl (Randy See) of Rowley, Iowa, Shane (Cathy) Tiernan of Polk City, Iowa, Laura (Scott) Dankof of Westcliffe, Colorado, Nancy (Dennis) Munro of Wheaton, Illinois, Martha (Don) Scheckel of Beltsville, Maryland, William Robert Jr. (Eliziane) Tiernan of Marshalltown, Iowa, Sara (Sam) Reichart of Ankeny, Iowa, Rachel (David) Tegeler of Des Moines, Iowa, brother-in-law Bruce Otto of Grinnell, Iowa, sister-in-law’s Margaret Tiernan of Stuart, Iowa and Donna Miller of Winfield, Missouri, as well as her niece Mitsuko Takeuchi of San Francisco, California. Ellen is also survived by 46 nieces and nephews, 61 great nephews and nieces and eight great, great nephews and nieces.
Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, William and Joanne Tiernan, sister Colleen (Tiernan) Otto, brothers Eric Tiernan, Thomas Tiernan, and Peter Tiernan, Her father and mother-in-law, James and Masako (Harada) Iwai, and sister Janet Iwai Tacheuchi.
Ellen was a creative and vibrant woman who was kind, generous, and always eager for life's adventures. She was the family historian and loved learning about her family to preserve their heritage. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Visitation for Ellen will take place on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm and Thursday from 10:00 am until the time of funeral service at 11:00 am at Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Ave. Norridge, Il. Interment will follow at Acacia Park Cemetery in Chicago. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago, https://irish-american.org/donate-online/
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ellen Tiernan, please visit our flower store.
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