John J. “Tucky” McKiernan, 85, of West Boylston, formerly of Auburn and Worcester passed away Saturday, February 15, 2025 with his family at his side.

  He was born in Worcester, son of George A. and Catherine N. (Motherway) McKiernan. He is predeceased by his wife of 54 years, Dorothea R. “Doris” (Teller) McKiernan who passed away in 2019. His parents and three siblings, Carol A. Kelly, George F. McKiernan, and Thomas P. McKiernan also predeceased him. He leaves two daughters, Christine McKiernan and her husband, Kevin McAllister, and their daughters, Siobhan and Aileen McAllister of South Hadley, and Colleen McKiernan of Somerville, as well as many nieces and nephews who say he was like their second father.

John grew up in Worcester and graduated from Commerce High School before joining the National Guard. While working at Chase Paper Company he met his wife Doris, the love of his life. They were married in 1965 and raised their two daughters in Worcester. His daughters, and later his granddaughters, were the pride of his life, and he was always there to love and support them. Tucky and Doris’s home was the site of many family gatherings, where he shared stories while manning the grill with his brother, George. He was so well known and loved that no matter where he went, someone would stop him to say hello.

John joined the Worcester Fire Department in 1967 where he worked for 32 years, serving on Engine 1, on Fire Prevention, as a Drill Instructor and retiring as a Lieutenant on Engine 3. The Fire Department was his second family, where he established lifelong bonds with the other men on the Department. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Alhambra Council 88, where he served on the Board of Directors, and where family and friends spent many weekends picnicking and playing cards on the beachfront. After retirement, Tucky and Doris traveled and spent winters in Florida, where their condo was on the first tee of the golf course, and the place to stop after a round. Tucky took up wood carving in retirement, carving and painting the many birds that decorate his home and which he shared with friends and family. He was a member of St. George’s Parish and more recently of Our Lady Good Counsel Church.

Visiting Hours are Tuesday, February 18 from 4 to 7pm at Fay Brothers Funeral Home, 1 West Boylston St, West Boylston. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, February 19 at 11am in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 111 Worcester St.,West Boylston. Burial will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Worcester Fire Department Scholarship Fund, c/o the Worcester Fire Dept. Credit Union, 34 Glennie St., Worcester, MA 01605 or the Knights of Columbus, Alhambra Council, PO Box 20404, West Side Station, Worcester, MA 01602.