Celestine Harnden

Celestine “Sally” Catherine Perkins Harnden 89, of East Fryeburg, entered the spiritual world Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017, at Bridgton Hospital.

She was born July 11, 1927, the fourth child of Clayton and Grace Mary Perkins in Franklin, Mass. After losing her mother at age nine her father returned to Maine where he had been born. Unable to care for her, he placed her in foster care with William and Lettie Lord, who lived on Denmark Road in East Fryeburg, next door to the man she would later marry. Her life of service began at an early age as a foster child. She helped in the care of her foster mother, but she always thought of it as a labor of love. She attended a one-room school through the eighth grade, then went to Fryeburg Academy. She was second in her class but did not finish her senior year due to the decision to marry her husband Calvin Harnden before he was shipped out to Japan in 1945. The Academy honored her with her diploma 66 years later on Dec. 7, 2011. On Dec. 22, 1945, Sally married Calvin C. Harnden, the boy next door. Sadly, Calvin passed four months prior to celebrating their 60th anniversary. Sally was a mother to their three children, and a caregiver and volunteer.

She worked briefly as a secretary and floral assistant while the family lived in the Portland area from 1954 to 1965. After settling back at Calvin’s family home she committed her life to caring for family members and community service. Sally was devoted to her community by serving these many groups: Girls and Cub Scout Leader, PTA member and president, volunteer to Dollars for Scholars, founding member of the Raiders Booster Club, Community Giving Tree, Trustee of Mount Pleasant Cemetery, honorary member of Daughters of the American Revolution, the Fryeburg Library Club, Dinner Bell North, Fryeburg Fire Auxiliary, and the Fryeburg ski program. She served the Fryeburg New Church in many ways for over 30 years, as a Sunday school teacher, volunteer secretary, Women’s Alliance, Maine Association and a Trustee. Sally was the recipient of many honors for her community service: Daughters of the American Revolution, Fryeburg Beautification Committee, East Fryeburg Grange, Fryeburg New Church, 2001 Fryeburg Academy Distinguished Alumni, 2012 Inductee to Fryeburg Academy Hall of Excellence.

Sally was predeceased by her husband Calvin; her daughter Susan Fox; her granddaughter Crystal Harnden; her parents, sister and two brothers.

She is survived by a son Dean Harnden of Fryeburg; a daughter Nancy and her husband Stephen Leach of East Fryeburg; six grandchildren, Stephen Fox and his wife Julie, Daniel Fox, Jennifer and her husband Jeffrey Pelkie, Jeffrey Leach and his wife Allison, Tonya Fox and her partner Jonathan Purslow and Heather and her husband Chris Calvert; 15 great-grandchildren, Kyle Fox and fiancée Samantha Smeed, Brittany Fox, Lily and Shelby Purslow, Jade, Calvin, Job and Haden Fox, Nicole and her husband Joseph Stefano, Brianna, Caligrace and Danielle Pelkie, Elsy, Watson and Clarence Leach; two great-great-grandsons, Emerson and Callahan Stefano; many nieces and nephews; and her beloved adopted Brown family and many others who chose to call her mom, sister, aunt and Grammie.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 1 p.m., at the Fryeburg New Church with Rev. Allison Lane-Olsen officiating. Interment will be in the spring. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to one of the following: The Fryeburg New Church, The Fryeburg Boosters Club, The Fryeburg Recreation Building Fund, The Fryeburg Rescue or a local charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the care of Wood Funeral Home, 9 Warren, St., Fryeburg. Online condolences may be shared with her family at www.woodfuneralhome.org