The daughter of a coal miner,she became a beautician while working her way to an undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, after which she returned to her home town and taught music, social science, physical education and became the boys tennis coach. Recognizing the value of a higher education, she enrolled at the University of Illinois at Champaign, graduating with a law degree in 1950, the only women graduate that year. Joining Bankers Life and Casualty Company, she was editor of their magazine and became became a legal advisor to John D. MacArthur. Mrs. Tiernan was appointed an Assistant Attorney General of the State of Illinois in 1953, serving three years as head of the Corporate and Bankruptcy Divisions in the Chicago office. She went into private practice in 1959, eventual moving her offices to Flossmoor where she practiced until the age of 82. She was known as a person who opened her door to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Mrs. Tiernan became a vocal proponent of equal rights for women in the workplace, serving and speaking on numerous panels and committees. In 1965 she wrote a feature series for the Chicago Tribune on her daily struggles to quit smoking, subsequently appearing on The Morning Show and the Lee Phillip Show. She was featured in the Homewood-Flossmoor Star on October 8, 1987 for an article written about non-traditional women. She enjoyed golf, travel, reading and in later years, being around her grandchildren.
The daughter of a coal miner,she became a beautician while working her way to an undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, after which she returned to her home town and taught music, social science, physical education and became the boys tennis coach. Recognizing the value of a higher education, she enrolled at the University of Illinois at Champaign, graduating with a law degree in 1950, the only women graduate that year. Joining Bankers Life and Casualty Company, she was editor of their magazine and became became a legal advisor to John D. MacArthur. Mrs. Tiernan was appointed an Assistant Attorney General of the State of Illinois in 1953, serving three years as head of the Corporate and Bankruptcy Divisions in the Chicago office. She went into private practice in 1959, eventual moving her offices to Flossmoor where she practiced until the age of 82. She was known as a person who opened her door to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Mrs. Tiernan became a vocal proponent of equal rights for women in the workplace, serving and speaking on numerous panels and committees. In 1965 she wrote a feature series for the Chicago Tribune on her daily struggles to quit smoking, subsequently appearing on The Morning Show and the Lee Phillip Show. She was featured in the Homewood-Flossmoor Star on October 8, 1987 for an article written about non-traditional women. She enjoyed golf, travel, reading and in later years, being around her grandchildren.
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