Barbara Stoll

Barbara Stoll, age 74, of Pines Lake in Wayne, passed away peacefully at her home, with her loving family by her side, on Monday, September 23, 2024.

The first of Klaus and Rosemarie (Baum) Stoll’s three children, Barbara was born in Dudweiler, Germany. When she was just three years old, Barbara’s father emigrated to Montreal, Canada with aspirations of establishing a better life experience for little Barbara and his wife. After two years, having secured steady employment and an adequate home, Barbara and her mother joined Klaus. They lived in Canada for six years, then relocated once again, this time to the United States, settling initially in Paterson before moving to Wyckoff, NJ when Barbara was a young teenager. 

Barbara graduated from Ramapo High School with the Class of 1967. The next few years were a time of profound change. After high school, she attended beauty school and started a career as a professional hairdresser. She met and married Daniel Martin on May 3, 1970, when Barbara was a mere twenty years of age, and moved to Wayne in 1972. The ensuing years brought the blessing of her three children – Laura, Geoffrey, and Andrew. Barbara settled into a life-rhythm of working her hairdressing job on the side while managing her home and raising her children. She invested lovingly in their lives by volunteering as a Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scout leader and serving as a swim team leader and helping during all their summer activities at Pines Lake. 

In the mid-eighties, with her children reaching an age of relative independence, Barbara set her sights on a personal goal by pursuing higher education at William Paterson University. Squeezing in classes and studying between daily responsibilities, Barbara kept at it and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1993. She remained at WPU for one more year to earn her master’s degree. Barbara initially worked as a reporter for local publications including the Pines Lake Reporter and the Wayne Today newspaper and she wrote press releases and articles for the William Paterson University alumni magazine. Soon after she settled into a rich experience of being a public relations writer and editor for her alma mater, covering countless university events and coordinating with all parties involved while seeing each project from its genesis to completion. She was an incredible writer who, for twenty years prior to full retirement in 2024, immensely enjoyed her work. She was well respected in her professional roles for her thoroughness, organization, punctuality, perfectionism, ability to see each project to its completion and, of course, her perfect penmanship.

Despite all of Barbara’s professional accomplishments, nothing gave her greater joy than times spent with her family. Sharing her love of the arts with her mother Rosemarie and her daughter Laura, she really enjoyed joining them for an evening together, taking in a good movie, Broadway show, or visit to the opera. She loved to share the accomplishments of her sewing, and her accomplished baking skills ensured that her house always smelled inviting and delicious. Homemade breads of all kinds, including her German Stollen bread, and cookies of all varieties were special treats that were always welcome by all. A good cook also, nothing made Barbara happier than family gathered in her home on Christmas and Thanksgiving enjoying her home cooked dinners. Barbara had a terrific way of making you feel special on your birthday, and she always seized the opportunity to celebrate all of life’s accomplishments experienced by the ones she loved. She adored being a mom and completely devoted herself to the role. Always concerned about her children’s well-being, she was a constant source of support and love. Her devotion to her grandchildren was just as strong and she always looked forward to their weekend visits.

Barbara leaves behind a legacy of love and friendship. Always sensitive to the needs and feelings of others, she was selfless – a quality demonstrated by her desire to be involved in acts of service during her years attending St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes. Having endured recent years of challenge brought on by her battle with Parkinson’s, her family is grateful for her role in their lives but equally grateful that she is finally at peace.

Barbara was the loving and devoted mother of: Laura Martin of Astoria, NY, Geoffrey Martin of Wayne, and Andrew Martin and his companion Christina Whelan of Wayne. She was the cherished daughter of Rosemarie Stoll of Fort Meyers, FL; adoring grandmother of Klaus, Elke, Olivia, and Taylor; dear sister of Thomas Stoll and wife Tracy of Fort Meyers, Florida, and Jim Stoll and wife Tracey of Westwood Massachusetts; and dear aunt of Kelley Hauser and husband Josh, Nick Stoll, Jon Stoll, and Michael Stoll. She also leaves behind numerous dear extended family members in Germany. Barbara was predeceased by her cherished father Klaus Stoll in 2005.