Edward J. Hastings

Edward J. Hastings, age 92, of Lake Worth, Florida passed away February 17, 2021.

Edward was a communicant at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Lake Worth. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran, and a retired fireman for the Chicago, Illinos Fire Department.

Edward was the eldest of five children born in Chicago, Illinois on June 14, 1928 (Flag Day).  His parents were Edward Hastings and Catherine Carney who were both born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States during their teenage years.  Dad’s father Edward was a Chicago Fireman and Catherine was a Nanny for a prominent family until she married Edward and started their own family.  They had five children, Edward, James, Mary, Kathleen and Thomas.  Edward is survived by his sister Mary Cipriani.  Edward served as a Pharmacist Mate Third Class from January 1946 through November 1947, post WWII.  Edward married Lois Hastings on August 10, 1957 and he became a stepfather to Margaret and Sharon Champlain, Lois’ daughters from another marriage.  He and Lois had three more daughter, Catherine, Debra, and Victoria. 

Edward served on the Chicago Fire Department for 29 years, starting date was 9/16/1952 on Engine Company 124 and retired from Engine Company 14 on March 28, 1981. Edward made Lieutenant on June 16, 1963.  During his years with the department he worked in a total of six fire houses and also with the Fire Prevention Bureau.  Edward was a fearless firefighter for many years and was well respected and loved by his fellow brothers in the fire department and participated in savings many lives.  He also cooked for the fireman and he was an awesome “chef”.  Some of his specialties included Beef Bourguignon and made an awesome Sunday Gravy spaghetti sauce for an Irishman.  Edward was an adventurer at heart and traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe, white water canoeing and rafting, visiting Mayan ruins, fishing in Canada, exploring most US states, Canada and Mexico on road trips.   Even on vacation, Edward was known to assist in rescuing people from peril either on canoe trips or down in the Florida Keys during hurricanes and storms. In his youth, Ed was never one to turn away from a good time that was to be had, which usually ended in singing “Danny Boy” or watching the sun rise.

Edward loved life, he retired early and he spent decades wintering in Florida, summers in Door County and eventually permanently in Florida. Golfing became a great joy in Edward’s life and he became a very accomplished golfer, along with attending plays/theater, loved and appreciate fine art, travel, reading, cooking, shuffle board (he was quite a ringer), contributing to the community through service as President of the Home Owners Association, cooking for many celebratory meals at the community club house, volunteering/managing Bingo along with many other social activities.  Edward remarried at age 70 to Evelyn Gandolfo and they shared a loving and beautiful life together for 22 years.  They were both Irish, Ed from Chicago and Evelyn from New Jersey, the same age, birthdays one day apart.  In his prolific life, he was a loving father and husband and he will be missed by so very many, including his loving wife Evelyn and her children, and his daughters Catherine, Victoria, Debbie, Sharon and Maggie and all of his grandchildren and of course, his many, many friends.

He will be lovingly remembered by his family, including his wife, Evelyn Hastings, daughters, Catherine Hastings, Debbie Gossard, Victoria Marquardt, Margaret Culberson, Sharon Ziemann, 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, sister, Mary Cipriani.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 AM Thursday, February 25, 2021 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Lake Worth, the Rev. Clem Hammerschmitt celebrant. 

Arrangements are in the care of Tillman Funeral Home & Crematory, 2170 S. Military Trail, West Palm Beach.