Maryann Kiernan

MaryAnn Kiernan, “Mandy”, age 57 of Wakefield Rhode Island passed away unexpectedly on October 2, 2024. Mandy is the daughter of Gerald F. Duggan and Catherine (Cathy) Duggan. She married her college sweetheart Keith J. Kiernan of Congers, New York and they have two beautiful daughters Catherine Ellysia Kiernan and Grace Ann Kiernan of Boston, MA. She leaves behind two brothers Gerry Jr. (wife Erica), Brett (wife Sonya), four beloved nieces and nephews, Amy Duggan, Sean Duggan, Arthur Duggan and Nina Duggan. She also leaves behind her Aunt Mary Anne (McLaughlin) Dunbar, and her dear cousins, Bob, Mike, and Chris Dunbar, and Maria and Ian McLaughlin, as well as her Uncle Joe Callahan and cousins Margret, Mary and Patricia (Tricia) and their many wonderful children.

Mandy was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts. She graduated from Andover High School in 1985 and then Villanova University in 1990. Throughout her childhood and high school years, Mandy excelled in many different sports including Track, Volleyball, Skiing and Basketball. She went on to play collegiate Volleyball at Villanova. Upon graduating from Villanova, Mandy started her career in the Banking Industry, married the love of her life Keith Kiernan in 1994, and started their family in 1997 with the birth of their first daughter Catherine Ellysia in Havertown, Pennsylvania. Soon after, they moved to Leominster, Massachusetts where their second daughter, Grace Ann was born in 1999. Mandy and Keith settled in Lancaster, Massachusetts where they raised their family and spent the next 20 years.

Mandy spent 15 years as a fitness instructor in Leominster, Massachusetts - her true love and passion was helping people through fitness. Mandy was also very passionate about gardening, reading, music, painting, playing in the ocean and traveling around the world with her husband and family.

After her children completed college Mandy and Keith relocated to Wakefield, Rhode Island in 2020, to be near the ocean.

Calling hours will be on Thursday, October 10, 2024, from 4-7pm at Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St., Wakefield, RI. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 11, 2024, 11am in St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 864 Pt. Judith, Rd., Narragansett, RI. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to NEADS World Class Service Dogs Training and Placement (Home - NEADS World Class Service Dogs) in Mandy's honor. Since Mandy was a little girl, she loved animals like no other — close family and friends would often joke about how Mandy was an "animal whisperer" as animals would often flock to her over anyone else. Please help us honor her love for helping others, her pets (Finnegan, Lily, and Daisy), and wild animals of all kinds, by giving back and supporting those in need of service dogs.