Gillisa McKiernan Obituary

Gillisa died on August 31, 2025, surrounded by family and with her son Eóin by her side. Gillisa led a life of purpose and dedication to the care of all those around her. She was a relentlessly optimistic, generous and kind spirit who always saw the best in every person and every situation.

Gillisa was born in Warsaw New York in 1956, the eighth child of Eoin McKiernan and Jeannette O’Callaghan, and the fifth of what would be six sisters. After the family’s move to Saint Paul in 1960 Gillisa attended St Luke’s grade school and Our Lady of Peace High School until it closed, finishing her last year of secondary education at Grace High School in Fridley. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy at the University of Minnesota and a Masters in Agronomy at the University of California-Davis. In the late 80s Gillisa began working as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa, managing research trials on drought-resistant grain in Burkina Faso, eventually becoming an associate director with the Peace Corps administering its agricultural program in Zaire and then serving as a project manager with USAID working in French with both farmers and embassy officials. Her love of this work drew her to the Peace Corps’ Returned Volunteer program later in life working in Jamaica on the establishment of a research lab. In the early 90s after returning from Africa with her infant son, Gillisa began a second career in real estate. She worked tirelessly to secure the best possible housing options for clients across the Twin Cities metro. In a spirit of service, she often represented low-income families, immigrants, and first-time homeowners. She appreciated and enjoyed her colleagues at Coldwell Banker and played leading roles in many of the service-oriented, community-building events organized by the brokerage.

Gillisa was independent, free-spirited, and an incredibly hard worker. She would spend her limited “off-time” building and maintaining beautiful gardens and improving properties. She raised her son to deeply appreciate the natural world and be of service, and she was always there for loved ones during times of hardship and crisis.

Gillisa’s middle name, Adeen, appropriately means “Little Fire” in Irish ~ everyone who met her felt her warmth. She was loved deeply by many, and her spirit will always be with us.

In her memory, please consider spending an hour in service to family, friends, local community or planting something beautiful in a garden!

She is survived by her beloved son Eóin Small who took care of her in her last months; siblings Deirdre, Kevin (Catalina), Brendan (Kathy), Nuala (Tom), Fergus (Annie), Grania (Nick) and Liadan; and her dearly loved nephews and nieces. She is preceded in death by her parents and sister Ethna. There will be a private family graveside service.