Ann Wade Hastings, 78, of Danbury formerly of Ridgefield, wife of Raymond Hastings died on Monday, June 11, 2012 at Danbury Hospital.
She was born on July 25, 1933 in Brooklyn, New York to William and Julia (Power) Wade.

Ann graduated from St. Francis Xavier Academy and Kings County Hospital School of Nursing in Brooklyn, New York. While working as a Registered Nurse, she met her life-long love, Raymond Hastings on a blind date. They married on September 3, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York.

Together, they moved Ridgefield in 1962, where they proudly raised five sons. Up until her death, Ann remained actively involved in each of her son's lives, never missing an opportunity to help, encourage, or simply laugh with them.

Ann never missed an opportunity to serve the Ridgefield community as well as her family. She was both an active volunteer for the Ridgefield Visiting Nurses Association, and on its Board of Incorporators. She also volunteered for The American Cancer Society, Meals on Wheels and taught religious education at Sacred Heart Parish in Georgetown and St. Mary Parish in Ridgefield. She, along with her husband and sons, were one of the founding families of St. Elizabeth Seton Parish of Ridgefield.

She remained in Ridgefield until she retired to Danbury with her husband in 1995.

In addition to her husband, Ray, Mrs. Hastings is survived by five sons, Richard and wife Diana, Michael and wife Dalva, Timothy, Terrance and Jamie; twelve grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. She is also survived by her brother, William Wade and her sisters, Mary Badame and Madeline Rodgers along with many nieces and nephews and countless kind and thoughtful friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 10 AM in St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 520 Ridgebury Rd., Ridgefield with Rev. Joseph A. Prince, Pastor officiating,

Interment will take place in St. Mary Cemetery, Ridgefield.

The family will receive friends in the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah St., Ridgefield on Wednesday from 5 PM to 8 PM.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Arthritis Association, 35 Cold Spring Rd., Suite 411, Rocky Hill, CT 06067 and would be greatly appreciated; www.arthritis.org

Before Ann died she composed a short note to friends and family. It reads, "Just my body will be buried, not my soul. My soul is the part of me that will remember each and every one of you, all the fun times we had together, all the hugs and kisses we shared, the games we played, the holidays and special occasions we spent together. I consider myself a very successful woman because I leave this world a better place than I found it because of my sons and their families. You were a good husband, Ray, and I loved you very much."
—by the family

Published in the Ridgefield Press, Monday, 11 June 2012