Mildred Lydia Nurmi Clifford, 99, went home to be with the Lord on January 23, 2023. She lived an active, happy life at her home in Troy; she was at Sebasticook Valley Hospital briefly where she passed of natural causes.
Mildred lived her life walking in faith and trusting in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was born May 21, 1923, in Inwood, Long Island, NY, to Axel and Lydia (Orvall) Nurmi, first generation Finnish immigrants. Many of her youth activities revolved around the church: attending Sunday School, youth groups, and church service. After graduation from Lawrence High School in 1941, Mildred attended Browne's Business School in Jamaica, Long Island, taking secretarial classes. She worked for several businesses on Long Island and one on the 29th floor of the Empire State Building.
From 1944 to 1947 she attended Providence Bible School in Rhode Island. She learned to play the piano and traveled throughout New England on gospel teams as their pianist. After graduation, she learned that New England Fellowship needed a Rural Bible Teacher in Maine and she was happy to take the job. She learned to drive and made her way to Central Maine, teaching classes in the area one room schools, including those in Troy, Dixmont, and Burnham. She had a two-week circuit and would stay with local families, including the Clifford's in Troy where she met her husband Charles. They were married June 5, 1948.
They settled in East Troy and started a dairy farm, later moving to Troy Center. Mildred and Charles raised five children and, with their help, worked the farm for 40 years. In 2016, they celebrated 68 years of marriage. Mildred attended the Troy Union Church and the Dixmont United Methodist Church where she played the many hymns she loved for services. Her life was characterized by her sweet smile, gentle spirit, ready wit, and profound faith. She always remembered birthdays, anniversaries, and all kinds of dates without a calendar backup. She was honored by the Troy selectmen with the Boston Post Cane in 2017.
She was predeceased by her husband Charles, her parents, sister Helen, and brothers Lauri and Paavo. She is survived by her son Paul and wife Phyllis of Dixmont; son James and fiancée Carol of Otis; daughter Nancy and Van Johnson of Troy; daughter Betty and husband Randy Wright of Newton, NC; son Stephen and fiancée Pamela of Brewer; grandchildren Kelly, David, James, Tara, Catherine and husband Shawn Cooper, Christine, Logan, Molly, Michael and wife Jenna; great-grandchildren Jasper, Juniper, and River, and other extended family. She enjoyed corresponding with cousin Ari and family in Finland from her mother’s family and recently discovered cousins Mel, Mildred, Shirley, and families from Minnesota from her father's family.
A memorial service is planned for June 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. followed by interment at the Rogers Road Cemetery and a gathering at the Clifford home. Those who wish may make gifts to the Dixmont United Methodist Church, PO Box 65, 989 Western Avenue, Dixmont, ME 04932.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mildred Clifford, please visit our flower store.
Mildred lived her life walking in faith and trusting in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was born May 21, 1923, in Inwood, Long Island, NY, to Axel and Lydia (Orvall) Nurmi, first generation Finnish immigrants. Many of her youth activities revolved around the church: attending Sunday School, youth groups, and church service. After graduation from Lawrence High School in 1941, Mildred attended Browne's Business School in Jamaica, Long Island, taking secretarial classes. She worked for several businesses on Long Island and one on the 29th floor of the Empire State Building.
From 1944 to 1947 she attended Providence Bible School in Rhode Island. She learned to play the piano and traveled throughout New England on gospel teams as their pianist. After graduation, she learned that New England Fellowship needed a Rural Bible Teacher in Maine and she was happy to take the job. She learned to drive and made her way to Central Maine, teaching classes in the area one room schools, including those in Troy, Dixmont, and Burnham. She had a two-week circuit and would stay with local families, including the Clifford's in Troy where she met her husband Charles. They were married June 5, 1948.
They settled in East Troy and started a dairy farm, later moving to Troy Center. Mildred and Charles raised five children and, with their help, worked the farm for 40 years. In 2016, they celebrated 68 years of marriage. Mildred attended the Troy Union Church and the Dixmont United Methodist Church where she played the many hymns she loved for services. Her life was characterized by her sweet smile, gentle spirit, ready wit, and profound faith. She always remembered birthdays, anniversaries, and all kinds of dates without a calendar backup. She was honored by the Troy selectmen with the Boston Post Cane in 2017.
She was predeceased by her husband Charles, her parents, sister Helen, and brothers Lauri and Paavo. She is survived by her son Paul and wife Phyllis of Dixmont; son James and fiancée Carol of Otis; daughter Nancy and Van Johnson of Troy; daughter Betty and husband Randy Wright of Newton, NC; son Stephen and fiancée Pamela of Brewer; grandchildren Kelly, David, James, Tara, Catherine and husband Shawn Cooper, Christine, Logan, Molly, Michael and wife Jenna; great-grandchildren Jasper, Juniper, and River, and other extended family. She enjoyed corresponding with cousin Ari and family in Finland from her mother’s family and recently discovered cousins Mel, Mildred, Shirley, and families from Minnesota from her father's family.
A memorial service is planned for June 24, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. followed by interment at the Rogers Road Cemetery and a gathering at the Clifford home. Those who wish may make gifts to the Dixmont United Methodist Church, PO Box 65, 989 Western Avenue, Dixmont, ME 04932.
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