Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home

04/27/2026

04/27/2026

What are some of the reasons many people choose cremation?
- Range of options
- Environmental impact
- Geography and population mobility
- Religious acceptance
- Memorialization flexibility

04/26/2026

Always

04/26/2026

As funeral directors, we often get asked, "why is it so important to have a funeral service?" Funeral Services help acknowledge death and provide your loved ones with a time and place to say goodbye.

04/25/2026

We all grieve in different ways, and children are no different. But how can you, as a parent, offer your child support and teach them how to process grief? That way, when losses come, they know what to do.

Go to www.holcombefisher.com/children-grief for ways to offer loving support and teach your child how to process grief.

04/25/2026

Martin Waisempacher

Martin “Marty” Waisempacher, a distinguished self-employed mason contractor renowned for his craftsmanship on numerous residential homes throughout Hunterdon County, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2026, in Pittstown, New Jersey. Born on January 7, 1929, in Yonkers, New York, Marty’s life was marked by dedication to his trade, deep family ties, and a passion for the outdoors.

A consummate perfectionist, Marty was admired not only for his skillful work in masonry, but also for the warmth he extended to all who knew him. Always greeting others with a friendly smile, he was a man whose character was as solid and dependable as the structures he built. His precision and pride in his work reflected a lifelong commitment to excellence and integrity, qualities that defined both his career and his personal life.

Marty took great joy in a variety of pursuits that painted the picture of a life well-lived. From days spent browsing garage sales and collecting unique antiques, to enjoying the thrill of watching NASCAR races and reminiscing at the former Flemington Speedway, his interests were diverse and cherished. He loved snowmobiling and camping with his family in the scenic Poconos, cultivating his vegetable and flower gardens with meticulous care, and maintaining a pristine yard that was a testament to his attention to detail. A seasoned deer and small game hunter, he found solace and fulfillment in the natural world.

His proud contributions extended beyond his professional and recreational endeavors. Marty was a long-time, devoted member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Flemington, where his faith was a steadfast foundation. Additionally, he held membership in the New Jersey Horseshoe Pitchers Association, engaging in the camaraderie and competition of the sport.

Marty is survived by his son, Michael Waisempacher of Cherryville, New Jersey; his daughter Debra Newquist and son-in-law, Karl of Wendell, North Carolina; his son Kenneth Waisempacher and daughter-in-law, Debra of Bloomsbury, New Jersey; and a loving circle of grandchildren and their spouses: Michael and Elizabeth Waisempacher, Matthew and Natalia Waisempacher, Jessica Newquist and husband Michael Adams, Kari Barry, Angela and Richard Dean, Daniel and Devin Waisempacher, Jennifer and Ryan Pikul, and Emily and Michael Reilly. He was also a cherished great-grandfather to nine great-grandchildren who will carry forward his legacy. Among his extended family, he was fondly remembered by his nephew, Ted Bachardy and his family.

Martin’s life was also shaped by the memories of family members who have predeceased him, including his wife, Norma (Kleeberg) Waisempacher; his parents, Martin and Anna (Kachnic) Waisempacher Sr.; and his sisters Ethel Sawanowich, Beatrice Bachardy, and Ann Waisempacher.

Funeral services and burial in Prospect Hill Cemetery will be private and under the direction of Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main St., Flemington NJ 08822.

Through his work, his passions, and the strong family bonds he nurtured, Marty Waisempacher leaves behind a lasting imprint of dedication, kindness, and a spirited zest for life. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him, and his memory will be treasured by those who loved him most.

View Martin Waisempacher's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

04/25/2026

DID YOU KNOW? The funeral ceremony has long been a ritual in our society. In addition to honoring the deceased, it provides a support system for us, friends, family members and our community.

04/24/2026

Shane Edward Barbiche

Shane Edward Barbiche, a beloved son, brother, and friend, passed away suddenly on April 23, 2026, at his home in Ranson, West Virginia, due to cardiac arrest. Born on February 4, 1988, in Raritan Township, New Jersey, he was the son of Mark Rob-Allen and Cynthia Jane (Becker) Barbiche. He grew up in Flemington, NJ and lived and worked most of his adult life in Maryland and Virginia, before moving to West Virginia a few years ago.

Shane's vibrant spirit and warm personality will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Shane was a dedicated professional, most recently serving as a Superintendent for the Digital Installation Group, LLC in Manassas, Virginia. He was also deeply connected to his roots through his previous work with Barbiche Bros. Construction, Inc., a family endeavor he cherished. His commitment to his work was matched only by his passion for life and the people he loved.

An avid enthusiast of fast motors, Shane found joy in cars, motorcycles, dirt bikes, and quads—anything with a motor that went fast exhilarated him. He also held a special affection for outdoor adventures; he loved hiking with his loyal pitbull, Mack—affectionately known as "Chippy"—snowboarding during annual trips to Vermont with his high school friends, attending concerts, and attending H2Oi, the H2O International car event in Ocean City, Maryland, where he bonded with fellow Volkswagen fans. Additionally, the family condo in Key West, Florida, was a treasured winter getaway that brought him relaxation and happiness.

Shane’s educational journey began at Hunterdon Central Regional High School, where he graduated in 2006. He furthered his studies at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana, embracing opportunities that allowed him to grow and pursue his passions.

Those who were lucky enough to know Shane recall how he lit up any room with his infectious smile and engaging personality. He was rarely in a bad mood, embodying a cheerful and positive outlook on life. Above all else, Shane’s heart belonged to his loved ones—his friends and family were his pride and joy, with a special bond for his younger brother, Skyler.

He is survived by his devoted parents, Mark and Cindy Barbiche of Vero Beach, Florida; his cherished brother, Skyler Barbiche of Lebanon, New Jersey; his grandfathers, William Edleston of Lebanon, New Jersey, and Robert Becker of Auburn, New York; and a wide circle of aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family who all hold his memory close. Shane’s beloved canine companion, Mack, remains a steadfast reminder of his loyalty and love.

A visitation to honor Shane’s life will be held on Friday, May 8, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, located at 147 Main Street, Flemington, New Jersey. Following this, a Celebration of Life will commence at 4:00 PM, also at the funeral home. These gatherings provide a heartfelt opportunity for family, friends, and all who knew Shane to come together, share their memories, and pay tribute to a man whose presence brightened so many lives. Cremation was private.

In lieu of flowers, folks are encouraged to plant a memorial tree or donate to one of the following charities:

Animal Alliance, 1432 NJ-179 North, Lambertville, NJ 08530 or the American Heart Association by clicking the link below.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.

View Shane Edward Barbiche's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

04/24/2026

Visiting a grief support group can help you in your grief journey, but what should you expect when you go? Read the article below to learn what your experience at a grief support group might look like.

Visiting a grief support group for the first time can be intimidating. Learn what to expect by reading this article!

04/23/2026

Howard Moreau Thomas

Howard Thomas loved almost everyone and almost everyone loved him back. He made friends easily, even with complete strangers. Once, waiting between sets at a music festival with his daughter, Howard chatted with a guy who offered to share his snacks. Howard was so touched that, without hesitation, he took off his own shirt, emblazoned with the band’s logo, and gave it to the guy – literally gave him the shirt off his back! Hearing this story, anyone who knew Howard smiled, nodded, and said, “Yeah, that’s Howard.”

He adored giving gifts and had a knack for remembering what people liked. He once found a pencil several feet tall and took the trouble to replace its broken-off eraser as a gift to his daughter’s teacher. A loyal friend and an open soul, he wore his heart on his sleeve. Howard was quick to encourage with laughter or offer true sympathy – whichever the situation called for – and all of it was genuine, empathetic, and deeply honest. In times of trouble or need, Howard rolled up his sleeves and pitched in to help. He always preferred to get his hands dirty for a good cause rather than have yet another meeting of managers. A hands-on father, he asked the same thing every day as his daughters left the school bus: “How’s the homework situation?” He loved helping with school projects, especially if they involved building models that required their (and his) creativity.

A happy companion and infectious storyteller, Howard enjoyed history and community, and was absolutely devoted to his wife of 37 years, Linda Monn Thomas, and their daughters, Ellen and Lauren.

Family and friends were shocked when Howard Moreau Thomas collapsed and passed away on Monday, April 20, 2026, at home in Alexandria Township, Hunterdon County, N.J. He was 66 years old. Youngest of three children of Anne Moreau Thomas and her husband, H. Seely Thomas, Jr., of Flemington, Howard was born January 16, 1960 at Hunterdon Medical Center. One of the first babies born under a new policy that let fathers attend the births of their children, Howard was always teased by his siblings that the hospital’s new policy had made him their parents’ favorite.

In adulthood, when he was much taller and larger than his older sister, Catherine, Howard loved to introduce her as his “big” sister, while she delighted in teasing that he was her “little” brother.

Howard attended local schools and graduated in 1978 from Hunterdon Central Regional High School, where he played football and lacrosse. At Middlebury College and Rutgers University he continued to play lacrosse, and in adulthood he volunteered for many years to coach for the Del Val Chargers Jr. Lacrosse Team in Alexandria Township.

He was past president of the Alexandria Township Historical Society and was a third-generation trustee of the Hunterdon County Historical Society. He was active for decades with the Sons of the Revolution, serving as historian on the state board and as president of the local, Hunterdon County chapter.

Howard was a volunteer and an elder at Alexandria First Presbyterian Church, where he often served as a youth leader and chaperone.

He loved music, especially classic rock. He’d been a DJ at the Middlebury College radio station, and the beat went on. Howard and Linda regularly attended gigs of local bands and he once flew to Barcelona, Spain with his daughter Lauren specifically to attend a concert. He loved The Grateful Dead and saw them play many times over the years. Following Jerry Garcia’s passing in the mid-1990s, Howard grew out his hair and beard to dress up like Garcia for Halloween.

When Howard was a young man, a friend’s father shared his season tickets to Philadelphia Eagles football games and Howard became a loyal Eagles fan, rising and falling with every twist and turn of the team. He was thrilled when they won Super Bowl titles in 2018 and 2025 and he attended both parades in Philadelphia, the first by himself, making friends in the crowd, and the second with his wife and daughters.

Howard started his career in the advertising department of the Hunterdon County Democrat newspapers, which his family owned for eight decades. This sparked an interest in vintage advertising signs, which evolved into his hobby of collecting Pepsi-Cola memorabilia. He and Linda recently attended Pepsi Fest in Lexington, Kentucky, where he sold some of his pieces and connected with fellow collectors.

Howard later worked in construction and property maintenance. At the time of his death, he co-owned Ambulance Billing Company, of Hampton, NJ, which his wife Linda had started after many years as a volunteer EMT and working in medical billing. Their daughter Ellen helps Linda manage the business. Howard also worked tirelessly to help daughter Lauren open “Snail,” her vintage clothing and gift shop in Old City Philadelphia, which offers “slow fashion” and other specialty items.

In addition to his wife and daughters, Howard is survived by his brother, John Martin Thomas II, and his sister, Catherine Thomas Langley, both of Raritan Township, NJ.

Services, officiated by Reverend Nicholas C. Hatch, Pastor, will be held on Monday, April 27, 2026 at 11:30 AM in the Alexandria First Presbyterian Church, 141 Little York Mt Pleasant Rd, Milford, NJ. Interment in the family plot at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Capner Street, Flemington, NJ will be private. A visitation with the family will take place from 9:30 AM until the time of the service in the church on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Pattenburg Rescue Squad, 590 County Route 614, Asbury, NJ 08802; or to Alexandria First Presbyterian Church, 141 Little York – Mt. Pleasant Road, Milford, NJ 08848.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.

View Howard Moreau Thomas's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

04/23/2026

Have you heard of the "last-year test?" If this year were your last, what would you do differently? " The purpose of this test - meditation on death - is to help us reflect on our lives, teaching us how to live each moment mindfully.
This article from NYT also shares meditation practices performed by Buddhist monks, including co**se meditation. If you read to the end of the article, you'll see that there's evidence to support that contemplating death and mortality might actually make you funnier. Read it and let us know what you think: https://nyti.ms/3r19QpG

04/22/2026

Lois Anne Stryker

Lois Anne Stryker, a devoted nurse, steadfast member of her faith community, and beloved matriarch, passed away peacefully at home under hospice care on Sunday morning, April 19, 2026. She was 93 years old. Born on November 29, 1932, in Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late William J. Weaver and Anne (Morgan) Weaver.

Growing up, she and her family moved nearly a dozen times to and from places like Indiana, Virginia, and northern New Jersey, eventually settling in the Sand Brook hamlet of Delaware Township, NJ. She had been a Hunterdon County resident for over 70 years since then and had lived in her home in Raritan Township, NJ from 1965 until her passing.

After graduating from high school, Lois pursued her passion for nursing by attending the Hahnemann Hospital School of Nursing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she became a Registered Nurse. This career perfectly complemented her compassionate nature. In 1954, the year after the Hunterdon Medical Center opened, she began her professional journey there, starting in labor and delivery and then 13 years in the emergency room. Throughout her career, she extended her skill and care beyond the hospital, serving as the Solebury School Nurse in Solebury, Pennsylvania, and contributing to the Flemington-Raritan Rescue Squad. Additionally, Mrs. Stryker performed insurance evaluations and assisted with blood mobiles, demonstrating her versatility and dedication.

Her service to others was matched by a profound faith. A woman of deep conviction, she was an active member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Flemington, NJ, for over three decades, before becoming part of the Cherryville Baptist Church, Cherryville, NJ in the 1990s. There, she served on various mission boards and the pulpit committee. Her commitment to spiritual growth led her to earn a theological degree from Westminster Seminary. In the 1980s, she applied this education to counseling individuals within her community, offering guidance and support during challenging times. She also was involved in various community Bible studies.

Lois’s personal passions brought joy and balance to her life. An avid gardener, she nurtured her flowers and delighted in feeding and watching birds and deer. She was especially fond of Labrador Retrievers, companions she cherished over the years. Lois was also a devoted Mets baseball fan and an enthusiastic traveler, exploring international destinations including Kenya, which she visited twice, Italy, and the Holy Land. She also enjoyed spending time with family, friends and her dogs at the Manasquan shore house.

Family was at the heart of Lois’s life. She took great pride and pleasure in her role as grandmother, affectionately known as "Nana" to her nine grandchildren: Elizabeth, Tom, Timothy, Katheryn, Leah, Christopher, Allison, Scott, and Brendan. Her legacy continues through six great-grandchildren: Johanna, Rebecca, Johnny, Naomi, Obed, and Ira. She is survived by her three sons and their wives: Reverend J. Mark Stryker and Karin of Pleasant Hill, California; David Scott Stryker and Kindra of Raritan Township, New Jersey; and Steven A. Stryker and Debra of Kingwood Township, New Jersey. Lois was predeceased by her husband, John F. "Jeff" Stryker, who passed away in 2018. She was also the last surviving member of her immediate family.

In addition to her professional and familial contributions, Lois supported her husband's paint store, particularly assisting with wallpaper, showcasing her willingness to engage where needed. Her generosity of spirit, sense of duty, and warmth left a lasting impact on all who knew her.

Commemorative services will be held to honor Lois Anne Stryker’s rich and meaningful life. A visitation will take place at the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, located at 147 Main Street in Flemington, New Jersey, on Sunday, April 26, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will follow on Monday, April 27, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Cherryville Baptist Church, 594 Cherryville Road, Flemington, New Jersey, with burial to occur at Cherryville Mountainview Cemetery, 596 Cherryville Road, immediately after the service at 2:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Lois's memory may be made to the Cherryville Baptist Church, 594 Cherryville Road, Flemington, New Jersey, 08822 OR by clicking the link below.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.

View Lois Anne Stryker's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.