Obituary for Rosaleen T. Leahy (Tiernan)
ROSALEEN TIERNAN LEAHY
1958 – 2022
Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY
Rosaleen Leahy, of Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY entered into eternal rest on November 9, 2022 at home with her family by her side. Daughter of the late John and Teresa Tiernan, Rosaleen was born in Manhattan as the youngest of seven children.
Rosaleen’s passion for music, devotion to her Irish heritage, spirit for adventure, and love of family permeate every memory we share of her throughout her 64 years. Music was essential to Rosaleen, from her intensive musical training at Manhattanville College, to her time as a violin teacher, her Irish fiddle studies, and her years of service at Cornwall’s library curating the audio collection and arranging performances from local musicians. She filled her home with instruments and songs from around the world, with a particular affinity for traditional Irish music. Her devotion to her Irish heritage drove her to the North American Irish Dance championship in 1975, and later founding the Rosaleen Tiernan Leahy School of Irish Dance in New Windsor.
To those who knew her best, Rosaleen was an adventurer. With George, her husband of 42 years, right beside her, she visited 12 National Parks, explored Greece and Switzerland, and sailed the Mediterranean, the Nile, and Lake Como. Rosaleen’s daily adventure and greatest love was her family. Together with George, she raised four children who joined them as world explorers: hiking the Adirondacks, studying Irish music in the Catskills, visiting cousins in Ireland, driving a minivan through France, riding streetcars in San Francisco, and taking an occasional trip to Big Thunder Mountain.
Rosaleen’s connection to her family ran far and deep. She is survived by her beloved husband: George Leahy; her children: Deirdre Hart and her husband John; Maura Leahy and her husband Matthew Macri; Aileen Leahy and her fiancé Mark Vignola; James Leahy and his wife Lakisha; her grandchildren: Maggie and Dorothy Hart; her siblings: Terence Tiernan, Ellen (Larry) Hickey, Bernard (Doris) Tiernan, Michael (Maria) Tiernan; Mary Ann Tiernan-O’Grady; together with Denise Munroe, Patricia Tiernan, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and loved-ones. In addition to her parents, Rosaleen was predeceased by several beloved family members including John Tiernan, Wanda Tiernan, Tim McCabe, and Margaret “Peg” Fitton.
As world-explorer, musician, and Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow, Rosaleen would encourage each of you to bake some Irish soda bread, dance to some excellent music, and start planning your next adventure.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 17th from 4pm - 8pm at Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Inc., 337 Hudson Street Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 19th at 11am at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, 340 Hudson Street, Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY.
Memorial Contributions in Rosaleen’s name may be made to: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087; Hospice of Orange & Sullivan, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550; Nora Cronin Presentation Academy, 69 Bay View Terrace, Newburgh NY 12550.
Arrangements are entrusted to Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Inc.; to send condolences or to get directions to the funeral home, please go to www.Quigleybros.com
1958 – 2022
Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY
Rosaleen Leahy, of Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY entered into eternal rest on November 9, 2022 at home with her family by her side. Daughter of the late John and Teresa Tiernan, Rosaleen was born in Manhattan as the youngest of seven children.
Rosaleen’s passion for music, devotion to her Irish heritage, spirit for adventure, and love of family permeate every memory we share of her throughout her 64 years. Music was essential to Rosaleen, from her intensive musical training at Manhattanville College, to her time as a violin teacher, her Irish fiddle studies, and her years of service at Cornwall’s library curating the audio collection and arranging performances from local musicians. She filled her home with instruments and songs from around the world, with a particular affinity for traditional Irish music. Her devotion to her Irish heritage drove her to the North American Irish Dance championship in 1975, and later founding the Rosaleen Tiernan Leahy School of Irish Dance in New Windsor.
To those who knew her best, Rosaleen was an adventurer. With George, her husband of 42 years, right beside her, she visited 12 National Parks, explored Greece and Switzerland, and sailed the Mediterranean, the Nile, and Lake Como. Rosaleen’s daily adventure and greatest love was her family. Together with George, she raised four children who joined them as world explorers: hiking the Adirondacks, studying Irish music in the Catskills, visiting cousins in Ireland, driving a minivan through France, riding streetcars in San Francisco, and taking an occasional trip to Big Thunder Mountain.
Rosaleen’s connection to her family ran far and deep. She is survived by her beloved husband: George Leahy; her children: Deirdre Hart and her husband John; Maura Leahy and her husband Matthew Macri; Aileen Leahy and her fiancé Mark Vignola; James Leahy and his wife Lakisha; her grandchildren: Maggie and Dorothy Hart; her siblings: Terence Tiernan, Ellen (Larry) Hickey, Bernard (Doris) Tiernan, Michael (Maria) Tiernan; Mary Ann Tiernan-O’Grady; together with Denise Munroe, Patricia Tiernan, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and loved-ones. In addition to her parents, Rosaleen was predeceased by several beloved family members including John Tiernan, Wanda Tiernan, Tim McCabe, and Margaret “Peg” Fitton.
As world-explorer, musician, and Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow, Rosaleen would encourage each of you to bake some Irish soda bread, dance to some excellent music, and start planning your next adventure.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 17th from 4pm - 8pm at Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Inc., 337 Hudson Street Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 19th at 11am at St. Thomas of Canterbury Church, 340 Hudson Street, Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY.
Memorial Contributions in Rosaleen’s name may be made to: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087; Hospice of Orange & Sullivan, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, NY 12550; Nora Cronin Presentation Academy, 69 Bay View Terrace, Newburgh NY 12550.
Arrangements are entrusted to Quigley-Sullivan Funeral Home, Inc.; to send condolences or to get directions to the funeral home, please go to www.Quigleybros.com