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Life story

" Colleen Mary (Tiernan) Moriarty, 53, of Spotsylvania, Virginia, died August 16, 2026, after a brief illness.

Born January 19, 1973, in Philadelphia, Colleen was the daughter of the late Edward and Carol Tiernan of Villas, New Jersey. She graduated from Wildwood (NJ) Catholic High School.

She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Mark Moriarty of Spotsylvania, Virginia; her children, Michael, Molly and Madelyn Moriarty, all of Spotsylvania; and her firstborn son, Brett Duffey of Cibolo, Texas. She is also survived by her brother, Michael Tiernan of Rio Grande, New Jersey; her sister, Carol Anne Tiernan of San Diego, California; and her beloved nieces and nephew, Kaitlin Tiernan, Devin Tiernan and Ryker Setz.

Colleen spent her early married years as a military wife, living in Cape May, New Jersey, Georgetown, Delaware, and San Diego, California, before settling with her family in Spotsylvania, Virginia. She spent much of her working life in the service industry, including at restaurants throughout the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania area, where she was beloved by coworkers and customers alike.

Colleen made lasting friendships wherever she went and maintained close relationships with people from early childhood through the final years of her life. She was a fiercely loyal friend who would do anything for the people she loved and was often described as the glue that kept people together. Nothing made her happier than being surrounded by family and friends, telling stories and laughing.

An avid cruiser, Colleen loved the Caribbean and took every opportunity to get on a ship, whether traveling with her husband, her children, her sister, or anyone else ready to get away from it all.

Colleen leaves behind a lifetime of friendships, stories and laughter, and a family that cannot imagine itself without her.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. "