Obituary of Mary Stella Hastings

Mary Stella Hastings, 95, of Morgantown, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at her residence with family around her. She was born July 23, 1926 in Morgantown, the only daughter of the late Sam Lucas and Della Katherine (Corulli) Nichols. Mary was a longtime member of St. Mary Roman Catholic Church in Star City. She was a graduate of Morgantown High School, West Virginia University, and also attended law school at WVU before her marriage to Dewey Smith Hastings in 1949. In 1952, Mary and her husband, Dewey, founded Hastings Funeral Home/Omega Crematory which they managed to present day. Mary was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority, Beta Iota Sorority, Life Member of Monongalia General Hospital, Morgantown Service League, Catholic Daughters of 954, Rebecca Lodge #51, several Bridge clubs and she and Dewey are the longest living members of Morgantown’s Sons of Italy #914. She was also awarded Miss West Virginia University during her college years. She was a noted soprano vocalist in Morgantown during her lifetime and a former member of the Music Club, Quota Club and served as President of St. Vincent Pallotti Hospital. Mary is survived by her loving husband of 73 years, Dewey Smith Hastings; two sons, Edward Daniel Hastings, Dewey Samuel Hastings; three grandsons, Matthew Daniel Hastings, Grant Smith Hastings, and Ted Andrew Hastings; two granddaughters, Mary Elizabeth Hastings and Jennifer Ann Hastings and her husband, Patrick Kyle; sister-in-law, Marsha Nichols, widow of Alfred Nichols; and nieces and nephews, Kimberly Nichols Goodman, Edward Bartow Nichols, Leigh Nichols Turner, Claudia Nichols Bays, Monica Nichols and Andrea Coleman. In addition to her parents, Mary is preceded in death by brothers Samuel Lucas Nichols and Alfred Nichols and nephew, Sammy Nichols, III. The family would like to extend their thanks and appreciation to the staff of Morgantown Hospice and all of the caregivers who gave her great love and care. Friends and family will be received at the funeral home that they founded, Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce Street, on Saturday, May 28th from 2 – 5 p.m. She will be moved on Sunday, May 29th to her church of 55+ years, St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, 3346 University Avenue, Star City, to lie in state from 4 - 7 p.m. A Scriptural Wake Service will be held at 6:30 p.m., with Sister Rachel Blais officiating. Visitation will continue at the church on Monday, May 30th from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., with Father John V. DiBacco as Celebrant. Interment will follow at East Oak Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to be made in Mary’s behalf to Morgantown Hospice, 3596 Collins Ferry Road, Suite 250, Morgantown, WV 26505 or to St. Ursula Food Pantry Outreach, P O Box 18, Pursglove, WV 26546. Send condolences online at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com