Amy Spring (Graves) Reyes

Amy Spring (Graves) Reyes, 51, of Hawthorne, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on September 1, 2025. She was a devoted mother, and her greatest joy in life was her son, Evan Reyes, who she supported, encouraged, and cheered on every step of the way. Amy was also engaged to be married to Andrew (Drew) Taylor, with whom she shared love, laughter, and many plans for the future.

Born in Oceanside, California, Amy grew up in Oakdale, Long Island. As the daughter of a proud Marine Corps JAG officer and a loving mother, she carried with her a spirit of service and adventure throughout her life.

Amy attended Miami University of Ohio, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. Guided by her desire to serve others, she joined the Peace Corps in 1996 and spent two and a half years in Paraguay, working to support community development. Upon returning to the United States, she pursued her passion for teaching, earning her Master’s in Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College, followed by a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration from William Paterson University.

Amy dedicated more than two decades of her career to Paterson Public Schools, where she served as a devoted teacher for 21 years before advancing to Teacher Coordinator of Multilingual Services. Her commitment, compassion, and leadership touched the lives of countless students, colleagues, and families.

Outside of her professional life, Amy embraced every moment with joy and laughter. She had a deep love for music and attended concerts whenever she could. She also adored animals—especially her beloved pups. Known as the life of the party, Amy always found a way to make those around her laugh, a testament to her adventurous and playful spirit. Above all, she was Evan’s biggest cheerleader, both on and off the field. Being his mother was her greatest joy in life.

She will be lovingly remembered by her son, Evan Reyes; mother, Claire Graves; brothers, Ryan (Patricia) and their children Isabella, Graciela, and Victoria; Kevin (Heather) and their children Conor and Sebastian;, Aunt, Lois Lisa (Michael), cousins; Dina Murphy (Paul) and their children Jack and Maddie, and Scott Martin and his children Finn, Fiona, & Tess. She was preceded in death by her father, Reynolds Graves.

To those who knew her, Amy’s life was defined by generosity, resilience, and devotion; to her family, her students, and the communities she served both at home and abroad. Her laughter, love, and legacy will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Visiting hours are from 3:00 to 7:00 pm on Sunday at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ.  Funeral service is 10:00am on Monday at the Wyckoff Reformed Church, 580 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff. Interment will follow at the Redeemer Cemetery in Mahwah.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in support of her son Evan’s future endeavors, honoring Amy’s deepest wish to see him thrive. https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-evan-reyes-after-amys-passing

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