Paramus Native Jessica Munoz's 'Light Was Truly Bright'

PARAMUS, NJ — Jessica Munoz was a 'passionate' and 'inspiring' teacher who went out of her way to help others.

She died Sunday while on her way to help someone: Her father.

Munoz, 30, a borough native, was killed in a single-vehicle crash on the Garden State Parkway Sunday. She was on her way to help her father, Alberto, who was about to be released from a Bergen County hospital following hernia surgery, NJ.com reported. (See related: Paramus Native, 'A Happy Soul' Died In Parkway Crash: Report)

"She was three exits from my home," Alberto told NJ.com. "She lost control of the car somehow and she lost her life."

Munoz hit a guardrail, crossed the highway, and hit the concrete barrier, State Police said. (See related: 1 Dead In Garden State Parkway Crash: State Police)

Jessica Munoz lived in Rahway. She was a teacher at Grace Wilday Junior High School in Roselle. Principal Tomeeko Hunt held a moment of silence on Tuesday before telling her students their teacher had died, NJ.com reported.

Hunt and Roselle Public Schools interim Superintendent Richard Corbett did not respond to requests for comment.

Munoz's boyfriend, Dan Valentine, could not be reached for comment directly. He told NJ.com that it "didn't matter what she made," that her paycheck "went back to those kids."

Munoz was born in Englewood. She earned her bachelor's degree in sociology and her master's degree in elementary education from Montclair State University.

She taught elementary special education students for two years at Rafael Hernandez School in Newark before going to Grace Wilday, where she taught seventh and eighth grades.

"Jessica leaves behind a legacy of passionate and inspiring teaching, which will be forever carried on with those whose paths she graced," her obituary states. "Jessica leaves behind a legacy of passionate & inspiring teaching which will be forever carried on with those whose paths she graced."

Munoz is survived by her parents, Arminda and Alberto and siblings Jeremy, Jalissa, and Jayson.

Visitation with the family and friends is Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Vander Plaat-Caggiano Funeral Home at 13-31 Saddle River Road in Fair Lawn. A funeral Mass is Saturday at 11 a.m. at Queen of Peace R.C. Church, 400 Maywood Ave., in Maywood. Cremation will be private.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Jessica Munoz (Courtesy of Munoz family, used with permission)