Hermine S. Van Doren

Hermine S. Van Doren, 91, passed away peacefully at her home on December 31st. A life-long resident of Hunterdon County, she was the daughter of the late Herman C. and Anna Schick of Little York. She was pre-deceased by her sister, Barbara Stratton, brother, Curtis L. Schick, and husband, Abram T. Van Doren. Hermine received her teaching degree from Trenton State College and her Masters from Rutgers University. She taught elementary students in the Flemington Raritan Elementary School and Three Bridges Elementary School before becoming an original teacher at Van DerVeer Elementary School in Somerville. She was the last original teacher to retire after a thirty-eight year career. Her final years were as a reading teacher. When she received the New Jersey Reading Teacher of the Year award, her supervisor commented that "she could teach a rock to read." She was a true master teacher. In addition to teaching school and actively participating in the family dairy farm, her garden was her passion. In recent years, she was often seen, with her walker, working in her garden. As put recently, "She was a pillar of strength for the family and a very special lady." She was involved with the New Jersey Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, Hunterdon County and New Jersey Dairy Princess Committee, Hunterdon County Board of Agriculture, American Association of University Women, Eastern Star, Grange, and was a life member of the National Education Association. Hermine is survived by her younger brother, Joseph Schick, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, her son, Fred, Flemington, her daughter, Jo-an’ Van Doren Beck and son-in law Phillip W. Beck, Carlisle, PA. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at Clover Hill Reformed Church, 890 Amwell Road, Hillsborough, NJ. Memorial contributions can be made to the Hunterdon County 4-H and Agricultural Fair, c/o Lisa Grzankowski, 326 Route 31, Hopewell, NJ 08525-2801, The Hunterdon Medical Center Foundation, 9100 Westcott Drive, Suite 202, Flemington, NJ 08822, or the Clover Hill Reformed Church, 890 Amwell Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844. Arrangements are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to leave an online condolence.