Henrietta Josephine Dietrich

Henrietta Josephine Dietrich passed away peacefully on October 16, 2026, in her home in Flemington, New Jersey, four months shy of her 100th birthday. Born on February 20, 1927, in New York City, she lived a long and memorable life marked by independence, devotion to family, and enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures.

Raised in New York City, Henrietta graduated from the Central Commercial High School in 1944, having been advanced a year, and was remembered for her tenacious spirit from an early age. As a young woman, she worked as a switchboard operator and a secretary at a paper company in Manhattan. She often reminisced about what it was like growing up on the upper east side of New York City before she moved to West Nyack, NY and then on to Flemington, NJ.

Henrietta worked for many years as a secretary for the Rockland County (NY) Jail.  She approached her work with dedication and steadiness, and she carried that same energy into the things she loved most outside of work. She met her husband at a wedding and accepted his marriage proposal on their second date. He was the love of her life, and they were married for 60 years until his passing in 2009.

She was a voracious reader of novels, enjoyed doing the New York Times crossword puzzles in ink, playing pinochle, and tending to her flower garden. She was an ardent lover of birds and also loved to share her many memories of saltwater fishing. She loved travelling and taking cruises but above and beyond all, Henrietta absolutely adored spending time with her five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, who brought her deep happiness. She also loved her late Cocker Spaniel, Buddy, who held a special place in her heart.

Henrietta is survived by her son, Donald Paul Dietrich, Jr. of West Nyack NY, her daughter, Diane DiBianca, and son-in-law, Thomas DiBianca, of Stockton, New Jersey. She also leaves behind her five grandchildren, Allison Fasoli and her husband, Adam, Richard DiBianca and his wife Jamey and Marina, Elise, and Camille Dietrich. Her love continues through her four great-grandchildren Dillon, Jack, Maria and Aurelia. She will be remembered by her family with love and gratitude for the many moments, traditions, and experiences they shared together.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald Paul Dietrich; as well as by her father, Henry Horak; her mother, Josephine (Hampl) Horak; and her brother, Frank Cihlar.

Funeral arrangements and cremation services were under the direction of Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main St., Flemington NJ 08822.  For further information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.  

Henrietta J. Dietrich will be remembered as a woman of warmth, spirit and zest for life, whose long life touched her family across generations. Her memory will remain a lasting blessing to those who knew and loved her.