Nancy A. Lutes, 92, of Durham, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on October 13, 2025.
Born in Plainfield, New Jersey, she was the daughter of the late Helen (Ross) and Nathan Howard Ayers. Nancy was raised in Metuchen, NJ, and was a graduate of Metuchen High School and Wilson College, where she earned her B.A. in Sociology. In 1954 she married her high school sweetheart, Ralph Lutes, in the church across the street from the home where she was raised.
Throughout her life, Nancy was deeply devoted to her faith and her community. She served as a Cub Scout and Brownie leader, Sunday School teacher, and Church Elder. She was an active volunteer and member of several congregations over the years, including Morris Plains Presbyterian Church (NJ), Denville Methodist Church (NJ), Center Church (South Hadley, MA), and Binkley Baptist Church (Chapel Hill, NC).
Professionally, Nancy worked as a social worker in senior care, serving at Dover Christian Nursing Home in Dover, NJ; Chapel Hill Nursing Home in Holyoke, MA; and the Veterans’ Home in Holyoke, MA.
Without question, family came first in Nancy’s life. Consistently and fairly she raised her children with firm but loving words and actions. Her determination was inspiring.
Nancy and Ralph brought up their family in Randolph Township and Parsippany, NJ. When Ralph became ill, the couple moved to South Hadley, MA. Nancy earned the admiration of all in caring for her husband during a long period of difficult infirmity. Eventually, after Ralph had passed, she moved to Chapel Hill, NC.
Widowed for 34 years, her spirit never waned and she remained active in retirement volunteering in the community, spending time with her grandchildren, reading, and attending Elder Hostels all over the country.
As a social worker with expertise in elder care, Nancy was a thorough believer in continuing care facilities and chose to live the majority of the last decade of her life in an “independent living” apartment at Croasdaile Village in Durham, NC where she made many friends.
She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph Lutes and survived by her children: Mark Lutes of Bethesda, MD; David Lutes of Redmond, OR; Christopher Lutes of Chapel Hill, NC; and Theresa Burdge Thompson of Radcliff, KY; eleven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, as well as her sister, Barbara Ayers of South Hadley, MA.
A celebration of Nancy’s Life for her friends and neighbors in North Carolina will be held Wednesday, October 22, at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel at Croasdaile Village in Durham.
In Massachusetts, a memorial service will be held on Friday, October 24, at noon at Center Church in South Hadley followed by internment at Evergreen Cemetery, also in South Hadley, at 1:00 p.m.
For online condolences or more information, please visit obrienfamilyfh.com.
Read More
