Born July 16, 1964, in Holy Cross, Ky., Lorine was the daughter of Rad and Elizabeth Riggs Hutchins. Following the death of Lorine’s father, Lorine’s mother and her 12 children moved from the farm to the town of Holy Cross so they would be closer to the church. Lorine attended Holy Cross High School in Loretto and she later entered the novitiate at Mount Saint Joseph. Following her postulancy, Lorine received the Ursuline habit on March 18, 1933, and the name Sister Mary Grace.
Sister Mary Grace’s first apostolate was that of domestic service and she served as housekeeper at several school missions in Kentucky. During these years she had two different assignments at Mount Saint Joseph. Her other apostolate was that of teaching primary grades and she was assigned to the Kentucky schools St. Charles School at Bardwell, Rosary Chapel School at Paducah, and St. Andrew School at Harrodsburg for varying lengths of time. Sister Mary Grace’s final assigned mission was as housekeeper for Bishop Henry Soenneker for four years.
In January 1962, ill health forced Sister Mary Grace’s return to Mount Saint Joseph. She was diagnosed with cancer of the bone marrow and given a prognosis of two to 10 years. Sister Mary Grace died on July 16, 1964, exactly two years and six months following her diagnosis.
On July 18, her Solemn High Requiem Mass was celebrated by her brother, Father Philip Hutchins, and the sermon was delivered by Msgr. Albert Thompson, MSJ chaplain. Bishop Henry Soenneker and six priests were present. Sister Mary Grace was laid to rest in the convent cemetery.