ROCKLAND — Sara S. Clough, 89, died peacefully July 27, 2014, at Knox Center for Long Term Care in Rockland.

Born in Friendship on Sept. 25, 1924, she was the daughter of Samuel and Ilmi Ellison Syrjala. Sara was raised by her mother and step-father, Alexsi Hill, after the death of her father when she was just 2-years-old.

Sara was the last to have been educated in the "Little Red School House" on Finntown Road. She then attended grade school in Friendship and graduated from Thomaston High School with the Class of 1942. She continued her education, graduating from Ballard Business School in Rockland in 1943.

Sara was employed with Lincoln E. McRae Investments prior to her marriage to Fred N. Clough Sr. Mr. Clough died on Jan. 15, 1995.

Sara was a member of the Finnish Congregational Church of South Thomaston since 1939, and a member of the Finnish American Society of Midcoast Maine. A homemaker, Sara was a former member of the Golden Rod No. 8 Eastern Star of Rockland.

Other than her parents, Sara was predeceased by her husband; and her siblings, A. Miriam Winchenbach and her husband, Robert, Sulo Syrjala, Edwin Syrjala, Onni Ellison and Oiva Syrjala. She is survived by a daughter, Sandra Woodward and her husband, Jon, of Sedgwick; two sons, Fred N. Jr., and his wife, Florence, Steven and his wife, Denise, all of Rockland; nine grandchildren, Jeffrey, Jason, Jennifer, Peter, Tobey, Rebekah, Aisha, Bethany and Holly; 14 great-grandchildren, Joshua, Jaxon, Emilee, Haylee, Sara, Emma, Mara, Layla, Ethan, Oliver, Ellie, Zoey, Ethan and Carter; a special niece, Barbara Linscott and her husband, Mahlon, of Washington; and nephews, niece and cousins.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday, July 31 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock St. in Rockland, where a funeral service will be held Friday, Aug. 1 at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Achorn Cemetery in Rockland. The Rev. Terence Willis will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Finnish Congregational Church, P. O. Box 293, South Thomaston, ME 04858.