Kathryn Marie Shern and Charles Richard Shern, each age 70 years, of Readington Township, NJ, died on Sunday, July 3, 2022, at home in a house fire.

Though their passing was tragic, it in no way diminishes the light that both Kathie and Chuck brought into this world and leave as a guide for future generations.

Kathie was born on May 1, 1952, in Perth Amboy, NJ. Growing up in Hackettstown, NJ, she would graduate from Hackettstown High School. She would go on to work for many years at the Flemington Medical Group, where her warm personality greeted and relaxed all the patients that came through the office doors. With a knack and love for talking to anyone, Kathie worked for Costco, Flemington, NJ, after she retired. She was known by many area consumers as the woman whose smile lit up the warehouse and would have many of the tasty free samples as one navigated the food aisles.

Chuck was born on September 15, 1951, in Middlesex, NJ, grew up in town, and graduated from Middlesex High School. He would go on to a long and successful career with Elizabethtown Gas, working as a mechanic. Well regarded by his peers, he had a knack for being able to solve any mechanical issue and was, as the adage goes, a true, “jack of all trades”.

The couple, married for forty-two years, lived for a short period of time in Piscataway, NJ, prior to moving to Whitehouse Station, NJ, to raise their family. Blessed with a son, Benjamin, and a daughter, Sarah, Kathie and Chuck will be remembered as great parents, instilling values of love and respect into their children. They were there as pillars of support for Ben and Sarah over the years and were elated when each found their own life partners in Christina and Randy. Life took an even better turn for the pair when they became the grandparents of Cody and Charlotte. They loved their grandchildren with a fierceness that only a grandparent can understand.

Kathie, besides being a wonderful mother and grandmother, was an amazing cook and baker. Her apple pies and fudge bars were legendary, and food was a way to gather the family together. With a fun sense of humor, Kathie enjoyed reading, traveling, and of course, meeting and talking with new people.

Chuck was strong willed with a passion for hard work and meticulous in all that he did. He was known for his “Dad” humor and enjoyed having a good time with family and friends, enjoying “Rock & Rye”. A passionate hunter and fisherman, Chuck loved anything outdoors. He had an affinity for waterfowl hunting, and loved training his dogs to retrieve, as well as hand carving his own duck decoys. Cooking, specifically smoking game, was his specialty and he traveled out west many times on hunting expeditions, bringing home everything from antelope, mule deer, geese, and mountain lions.

Kathie and Chuck’s passing surely leaves a void in the hearts of all who knew them, but their children and family urge each person to forget about their deaths and instead focus on their smiles, their love, and all the good that they leave in the hearts of the next generation. To do otherwise, is to not honor them.

Surviving are their children, Benjamin and Christina Shern and Sarah and Randy Thatcher; their grandchildren, Cody Jason Thatcher and Charlotte Denise Shern; their dog, Willy; several extended family members; and many friends.

All are invited to join the family for a gathering honoring both Kathie and Chuck on Saturday, July 23, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

A life celebration service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home, and to which all are welcome. If you would like to share a story and/or thoughts about Kathie and/or Chuck for possible inclusion in the service, please click HERE to send an email to the funeral home with your words. Kindly include your contact information.

Interment will be private.

You are encouraged to visit Chuck’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

Memorial contributions in honor of both Kathie and Chuck may be made to an education fund to support their grandchildren’s future educational needs. Please click HERE to be taken to their personal donation page, or if you prefer to mail a check, please make it payable to ‘In Memory Of’ noting SHERN in the memo and mailing to: In Memory Of, P.O. Box 5472, Charlottesville, VA 22905. Any and all contributions are greatly appreciated by the family.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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