Sister Mary Hastings (formerly Sister M. De La Salle), 90, a Sister of Mercy for 57 years, died Friday, November 16, 2012, after a period of declining health. A native of Bedford, New Hampshire, she was the daughter of Michael and Josephine (Shea) Hastings.
Sister Mary held B.S. and M.A. degrees in education from Mount Saint Mary College, Hooksett, New Hampshire. For many years, she was an educator in Manchester and Nashua public schools, and in New Hampshire Catholic elementary and high schools. She taught at St. Mary School in Franklin and St. Joseph School in Keene. In Manchester she was a teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School and St Casimir School, and was principal at St. Raphael School. She also taught at Immaculata High School in Manchester.
Sister Mary served as a dietician at Sacred Heart Hospital in Manchester, and did community outreach at St. Joseph Elder Services in Salem, New Hampshire. She was an employment specialist with AARP in Manchester for 11 years until her retirement.
Family members include a brother, John C. Hastings of Manchester, several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister Mary was predeceased by a brother, Robert Hastings, and a sister, Anne Hastings O’Brien.
Friends may call at the Warde Health Center, 21 Searles Road, Windham, N.H., on Monday, November 26, from 9:30-11 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. in the chapel. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bedford, NH.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, 21 Searles Road, P.O. Box 420, Windham, NH 03087-0420.