Sirkka Siiri Saarelainen, passed away at Christian Park Village on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at the age of 102. Sirkka was born in Valkeala, Finland on September 12, 1919, the daughter of Vilho and Olga (Lampinen) Saarelainen. She was a graduate of the University of Helsinki School of Nursing in Medical Technology and came to the U.S. in 1946. Sirkka worked at OSF St. Francis Hospital as a Laboratory Technician for 33 years. Her step-father, Fred and mother, Olga Leisola, came to the U.S. in 1950. Her father, Vilho passed away when Sirkka was nine years old.

Sirkka devoted much of her life as a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Escanaba as a Sunday School Teacher, Circle Leader and Circle Bible Study Leader, Funeral Serving Group Leader, quilter and coffee server for quilters, a member of the Friendship Club, delivered flowers to the shut-ins and homebound, and was a member of the Monday morning Bible Study group. She also attended a Finnish Bible group at Faith Lutheran Church in Rock. At Christian Park Village, she continued to listen to Bethany’s worship service on Sunday mornings.

Sirkka’s hobbies included making jam, working on crossword puzzles, crocheting, embroidering, knitting, and growing African violets.

A big thank you to the wonderful care Sirkka received at Christian Park Village since January of 2015, her friends from OSF St. Francis Hospital who helped celebrate her birthdays after her retirement, and friends, relatives, and Bethany friends who kept in close touch with Sirkka for so many years.

Sirkka is survived by relatives in the U.S. and Finland.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Escanaba. Funeral services celebrating the life of Sirkka will follow at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, with Rev. Terry Frankenstein officiating. A luncheon will be held at the conclusion of the services in Bethany’s fellowship hall. Burial will take place in the Gardens of Rest Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Bethany Lutheran Church, 202 South 11th Street, Escanaba, MI 49829.