Obituary of Deborah G. Kearney

Deborah Griffin Kearney, of Madison and formerly of Lexington, MA, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 14, 2025. She was 86.

She leaves behind her three devoted daughters, Jennifer Tomasulo and her husband, Joseph; Carrie Ritchie and her husband, Rob; and Jane Dwyer and her husband, Tom.  She had eight cherished grandchildren, Katherine, Tommy, Owen, Connor, Emma, Will, Michael, and John; three sisters, Mary Powers (Joe), Tessie DelMastro (Benny), and Helen Griffin; as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

In addition to her parents, Deborah was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, Michael J. Kearney in 2015.

She was the proud daughter of Irish immigrants, the late James and Deborah Griffin (née O’Neil).  She was born and raised in Hartford, CT before moving to Boston to attend Boston University on a full academic scholarship.  She was very active in her sorority, Theta Phi Alpha, and acted as its President.

Deborah met her husband, Michael, through mutual friends after graduating from college. The couple married on September 18, 1965, and remained in Massachusetts to raise their three daughters. Deborah was employed as a writer for public relations and media, with a specialty in commercial real estate. She worked for Beacon Companies, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Middlesex Community College, and for herself when she opened Kearney Communications.

Deborah was politically attuned and valued voting in both local and national elections.  She liked discussing politics, and world events.  She was extremely well-read, enjoyed reading the New York Times daily, and loved the arts. In her younger years, Deborah participated in aqua aerobics and enjoyed going out with her friends to see local theatre at the Huntington Theater in Boston.   She was part of the Boston Women Communicators Group where she enjoyed mentoring professional women, she was also a CCD teacher.

Deborah was always genuinely interested in what her friends and family were doing. She adored her children and grandchildren, and she kept in touch with all her friends, most of which she had since high school. Her family will forever miss her strength, love, and devotion.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the visitation for Deborah on Monday, April 21, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison.

Funeral services will begin at the funeral home at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, followed by Mass of Christian Burial that will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. at St. Vincent Martyr Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison. Those who wish may attend the mass virtually by visiting www.svmnj.org

Interment will follow at St. Vincent’s Cemetery, Madison.