Early last August, the lives of 8-year-old Tierney Murtaugh and her 15-year-old sister, Erin, were changed forever.

The Murtaugh sisters, who were born and raised in Albert Lea, lost their mother, Geri, to cancer.

The death of their mother, the assistant editor at The Albert Lea Tribune, came as a shock not only to them but to the entire community. Geri and their father, Mike, were well known in the community and were involved in numerous organizations. Mike was even serving as Albert Lea’s mayor.

Their whole lives immediately got turned upside down.

“This last year has been rough,” Erin said simply.

But through it all, Erin, an accomplished freshman at Albert Lea High School, and Tierney, an energetic, inquisitive child, have showcased strength and courage that people of any age could admire.

Though they’ve had their ups and downs, the sisters are keeping busy — still excelling — with school, violin lessons, figure skating and water skiing, among other activities.

They’ve also become even closer as a family.

Erin said she thinks about her mother every day and remembers many of the good times she shared with her, including times the two would cook or bake together and other times they would joke with each other.

She has a picture of her mother in her bedroom.

On Saturdays, she said, she and her mom could usually be found curled up on the couch watching “HGTV” or “CSI” together.

Erin also recalled how in recent years she would make comments to her mother about how long she had left until she could drive. She got approved for her permit Nov. 5.

“She always seemed to think that me driving was a bad thing,” Erin said. “But last week, my grandma, who was a little skeptical of me driving with her, made the comment that I am a very good driver and how proud my mom would be if she was in the car. This brought tears to my eyes.”

Aug. 7: Erin and Tierney’s mother, Geri, died at a Rochester hospital after being diagnosed a few weeks prior with cancer in her brain, spine, pelvis and liver. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and supposedly had fought it off.
Since then …
Late August 2010: Tierney stood up on her water skis for the first time on a long line (with a rope behind a boat).
Aug. 31: Tierney began third grade at St. Theodore Catholic School.
Sept. 7: Erin started her freshman year at Albert Lea High School.
Nov. 5: Erin got her driver’s permit. She can now drive a car with an adult.
Dec. 9-12: The Murtaughs went to Texas for a cousin’s wedding.
Dec. 24: Tierney played an angel at the St. Theodore Catholic Church Christmas Eve service. Erin played violin.
Jan. 6-9: Erin attended a Youth In Government gathering in the Twin Cities.

Hero: Tierney Murtaugh
Secret identity: third-grader at St. Theodore Catholic School
Base of operations: Albert Lea
Superpowers: waterskiing, ice skating, playing violin
Kryptonite: is a picky eater
Affiliations: father, Mike, and sister, Erin
Origin: born and raised in Albert Lea

Hero: Erin Murtaugh
Secret identity: freshman at Albert Lea High School
Base of operations: Albert Lea
Superpowers: maintains a 4.0 GPA, plays violin
Kryptonite: chocolate and shopping
Affiliations: father, Mike, and sister, Tierney
Origin: born and raised in Albert Lea