With sadness we report the death of Sister Lura Grace Hastings-Lane of the Community of St. John Baptist in Mendham, on Sunday, July 14 after a long illness. She was 64.
She is survived by a son, Scott Hastings and his wife, Lisa, two brothers, Edward Stewart and his wife, Linda, and Edwin Towers and his wife, Terry.
Sr. Lura Grace grew up in Houlton, Maine and had a long career as Executive Director of three Chambers of Commerce in New England before entering the Community of St. John Baptist in 2002. As a Sister she served at St. Mark's in Mendham and St. John's in Dover. Her passion was for the homeless, and she volunteered at the John Heuss House, a shelter that was sponsored by Trinity Church, New York. She also served on several boards dedicated to helping the homeless in Morristown. She volunteered at Our Place, a drop-in center for the homeless in Morristown.
At the Convent, Sr. Lura Grace was the Assistant Superior and was in charge of St. Marguerite's Retreat House. She also was a spiritual director. She will be missed by the many whose lives she touched.
Her funeral will be held at the Convent of St. John Baptist on Friday, July 26 at 10:30 a.m. Interment in the Convent cemetery and a reception will follow.
Condolences may be sent to the Community of St. John Baptist, Route 24, P. O. Box 240, Mendham, NJ 07945.
Good and gracious God, the light of the faithful and shepherd of souls,
you sent your servant Lura Grace to be a Sister in your Church
to feed your sheep with your word and to guide them by her example;
give us the grace to keep the faith she taught and to follow in her footsteps.
We entrust her into your unfailing mystery of Love and Hope
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
