Curran J. Tierney passed away suddenly on April 23, 2022 after a long struggle with Substance Use Disorder (SUD). He was a beautiful person with a dazzling smile, an infectious laugh and a remarkable capacity to love. He fought valiantly against his disease, returning again and again to treatment in various forms, often picking himself up from the darkest of proverbial ‘rock bottoms’. He was loved and supported by his friends and family throughout his quest for peace and calmness while never quite finding it.

Curran had many natural talents – swimming, running, public speaking, and was a gifted drummer. He loved worship music, sushi, cooking, sunsets and traveling. He had a deep affection for his pets - especially his cats. He also had a passion for flashy sneakers and a fresh haircut. He sneezed whenever he moved from shade into sunshine. It was an endearing trait that began as a newborn, that he found annoying. This trait is now shared by his baby daughter.

People gravitated to Curran and he enjoyed helping others. His offerings of a generous helping hand or kind word left lasting impacts on the people he met. His outreach work in the recovery community was one of the few activities in life that brought him a sense of purpose and true joy. He aspired to one day be a recovery counselor.

Curran and his fiancé Kaitlyn Riley welcomed their beautiful daughter Maelynn Rose Tierney into our family on November 21, 2021.

Curran will be deeply missed by Kaitlyn, Maelynn, his parents and stepparents Cheryl and Mark Kulacz / Karen Burke and Jim Tierney, his grandparents Marjorie Lowry, Dorothy Tierney, Peter Heistand, Carol and Bob Kulacz and Esther Burke. He will also be missed by loving aunts, uncles, and cousins and the true friends he met during his journey. He is now at peace with his grandfathers: David Lowry and Joe Tierney.

Service Program

Processional “Resurrection”

Welcome and Opening Prayer - Pastor Barry Baugh

Scripture Reading John 3:16

Remembrance from Adult & Teen Challenge– Frank de Mare

Remembrance from Childhood – Jonaski Spaddy

Remembrance from Recovery – Rebecca Nissenbaum and Jeff Chasen ,NorthStar Recovery Center

Remembrance of Love – Kaitlyn Riley

Scripture Reading Luke 14: 13-14– Mark Kulacz

Remembrance from Mom – Cheryl Kulacz

Reflection “See a Victory”

Message and Closing Prayer – Pastor Barry Baugh

Recessional “Break Every Chain”

Presiding Pastor: Barry Baugh / Adult & Teen Challenge

Worship Musicians

Jason Almeida - Percussion

Kalan Norman - Guitar

Matthew Barron - Vocals

Food: Adult & Teen Challenge Catering and Renee's Kitchen

Heartfelt thanks to our friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors who have surrounded us with love and support. We are forever grateful for the unconditional love, empathy and understanding that Curran experienced during his years of struggle. Many saw his true heart and loved him for the beautiful human being that he was. Knowing he will remain in the hearts and minds of others as the person he was meant to be carries us onward.

Thank you to our musicians, who are spiritual brothers of Curran’s from Adult & Teen Challenge and to Pastor Barry and the Adult & Teen Challenge Catering team for being with us today.

Finally, we are grateful to Grace Church for welcoming us to celebrate Curran here, where he felt at peace and connected to his spiritual center.

“Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we loved so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference into your tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it ever meant. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. One brief moment and all will be as it was before. How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!”

~ Henry Scott Holland. Conon of Christ Church, Oxford 1847-1918