Ishpeming- Suoma Marie Tierney, age 96 longtime Ishpeming resident, passed away Monday, December 12, 2011 at the Marquette Co. Medical Care Facility where she been a resident since September 2010.

Suoma was born August 14, 1915 in Republic to Jalmer J. and Tyyni (Sarrkinen) Pirkola. She worked at the H.W. Gossard Company and later moved to Albany, New York where she worked for the New York Department of Health. She moved back to the UP and worked as a LPN for Bell Hospital for 25 years.

Suoma was a member of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in Ishpeming. She enjoyed traveling, was an avid reader and was proud of her Finnish Heritage.

Suoma is survived by 8 grandchildren: Scott (Debbie) Tierney of Concord, NC, Steven Tierney of Lewisburg, PA, Pamela Tierney of Negaunee, Cynthia (Chuck) Adams of Austin, TX, Lynda (Steve) Konecny of Elizabethtown, KY, Patricia (Rob) Hobart of Fayetteville, NC, Greg (Laura) Shepherd of Sheboygan, WI and Julie Vierela of Washington D.C., 10 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Suoma was preceded in death by her husband David Tierney, two sons: Jerome and Joel, a granddaughter Sandra Tierney, and two sisters: Fannie E. Betts and Joanne Zastrow.

Visitation and funeral services will be held on Friday, December 16 at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home in Ishpeming with visitation from 10:00am until the time of funeral service at 11:00am with Frank Honkala to officiate.

Interment will take place at Northland Chapel Gardens.

Memorial considerations may be directed the Marquette Co. Medical Care Facility Activity Fund in memory of Suoma.

Suoma's obituary may be viewed at www.bjorkandzhulkie.com where her guest book may be signed.