Lois Hastings Grimwade

1932 - 2021

Lois (Burnham) Hastings Grimwade passed away peacefully on Jan. 14, 2021, at the age of 88. Lois is remembered for her deeply caring heart, beautiful gardens and exuberance for life.

She was born on July 28, 1932, in Quincy, Massachusetts to Ardelle (Low) Burnham and Harold Alden Burnham of Essex, Massachusetts. She graduated from Quincy High School in 1949 and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from Bates College in 1954. During one of her nursing clinical rotations in Boston, she met her husband, David Spencer Hastings, MD and they were married in 1953. After spending two years in Kansas while David served in the U.S. Air Force, they eventually settled in Stafford Springs where David practiced medicine and together, they raised three children. Sadly, Dave died of cancer in 1976. Lois then focused on raising and supporting her family while starting her 19-year career as a RN with the Harrington Memorial Hospital VNA. Mutual friends introduced Lois to Reed Grimwade, a widower and CEO of the Charlton Woolen Mill in Charlton, Massachusetts. They married in 1986 and together they blended two grown families and enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren, traveling and gardening. After 25 years of marriage, Reed passed away in 2011. Lois was actively involved in the community with Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and the Methodist Churches in Stafford Springs and Charlton City. She enjoyed summers in Essex, and hosting large family gatherings on Thanksgiving and July 4th. Lois loved vegetable gardening and caring for her beautiful flowerbeds. She had a contagious enthusiasm and energy for life, which she inspired in her family. She was known to frequently "seize the day" at a moment's notice and go skating, sailing, hiking, or swimming. Her grandchildren and extended cousins, nieces and nephews have cherished memories of the "life lessons" she bestowed and her wonderful "Grandma's Camp" on beautiful Leadmine Pond in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Lois was very close to her late brother, Charles A. Burnham and his wife, Maria of Essex.

Lois leaves behind her three children, Patricia (Hastings) Kritzman of Sturbridge, Thomas Hastings and his wife, Stephanie of Wayland, Massachusetts and Steven Hastings and his wife, Susan of Bolton, Massachusetts. She also leaves Reed's three children, Jane Tirrell of Pasadena, California, John Grimwade of Kansas City, Missouri, and Julia Leonard of Merritt Island, Florida; 14 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; along with many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Her family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Bridges by Epoch in Westford, Massachusetts for their loving care.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Stafford, the Charlton City United Methodist Church, or the Essex Ship Building Museum in Essex, Massachusetts.

A private burial service will be held at Stafford Springs Cemetery, Stafford Springs. A memorial service will be scheduled for friends and family sometime later this year.

Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., Stafford Springs, has care of the arrangements. To leave a condolence online for the family, please visit

www.introvignefuneralhome.com