It is with great sadness that our family shares the passing of Elizabeth Ann Tierney (McNally) of Dumont on January 14, 2026, following a brave decade-long fight against Alzheimer’s Disease.

Known affectionately as Betty to all who loved her and called her a friend. Betty was born October 23, 1945 to Mary and Peter McNally and raised in Parkchester on Taylor Avenue in the Bronx. She attended St. Helena’s High School. She met the love of her life Gregory Tierney in 1970 and after they were married went on a great adventure to live in Little Rock, Arkansas as an Air Force wife. She enjoyed telling funny stories of these times and her adventures with different jobs, new friends, a basset hound, tornadoes and her adventure into motherhood when she welcomed their first child Jay Eric in 1976.

Betty and Greg made their way back to the tri state area to New Jersey and settled in Dumont in the late 70s. They welcomed a daughter to their family Jennifer Elizabeth in 1980.  Betty loved babies and children and enjoyed being a mom. She was a wonderful, whimsical and loving mom and wife. She gave the best hugs and was easy to talk to. 

Betty was vivacious and lively, the kind of person strangers always chatted up, who people would often approach for help in a supermarket, a good neighbor. She was great fun and company and she had many lovely lifelong friendships that were important to her. 

After returning to school for her degree later in life at Bergen Community College, Betty spent many years working in doctor offices, most extensively for Doctor Jane Stone of Englewood. Betty loved all the patients she met and was a friendly comforting face for many. She truly enjoyed people’s life stories and found interest in everyone she met.

Betty was proud of her Irish roots and enjoyed plain food. She used to joke that the only spices she knew were salt and ketchup. She was a fair skinned beauty who sunburned quickly and smiled easily. She never turned down an egg cream and introduced quite a few people to them, always explaining there is no actual egg!

Betty leaves behind her devoted husband of 53 years Gregory; son Jay Tierney (Lynne) of Audubon, NJ; daughter Jennifer McMillan (Brian) of Bozeman, MT; and five grandchildren: Kyler, Jack, Sadie, Violet and Autumn. She was always close with her siblings and is predeceased by her sister Mary Nolan and brothers James McNally and John McNally. The family expresses their deep gratitude to the staff at Paramus Veterans Home and CareOne Cresskill for their compassionate care. We have learned that there really are angels among us. We’ve already missed Betty, Mom, for years and always will. Donations in Betty’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. 

I love you neither with my heart

nor with my mind.

My heart might stop

my mind can forget.

I love you with

my soul because

my soul never stops

or forgets.

-Rumi

Visitation Sunday, January 18, 2026, 2 PM to 6 PM at the Frech-McKnight Funeral Home, 161 Washington Avenue, Dumont.