Helping Others Was Her Dream. But A Tumor Took Her Life.

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Amanda Paige Aujero believed in justice and helping others.

Her dream was to become a police officer or civil servant. A tumor cut that dream short, but it did not stop Aujero from giving "so much of herself to others," her family said in her obituary.

Aujero, 19, of Ridgewood, died suddenly Wednesday, surrounded by her family and friends.

Aujero was an honors student at her alma mater, Ridgewood High School, and Stockton University, where she was majoring in Criminal Justice and made the dean's list.

"Amanda lit up any room she came into. She always made sure others were comfortable and happy and so often willing to help when others needed it," her family said in the obituary. "She never hesitated to reach out to help and always put others’ needs before hers."

Aujero's family set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to fund a scholarship that will be established in her memory. Nearly $10,000 was donated since the campaign went live Thursday.

Aujero had a "positive" and "loving" character that was "contagious," her friends and family said on the GoFundMe page.

"Her laughter, humor, and kindness always found a way to keep us smiling," her friends said.

She is survived by her parents, Rommel and Laura Chamberlain-Aujero; sister, Jessica; grandparents Carl and Carole Chamberlain-Berman and Alberto and Elisa Aujero; aunts and uncles, Alberto and Melissa, Rob and Gina, Allan and Judith, Scott and Kim, Dennis and Melody, Mardi and Howard; and cousins Brooke and Jaclyn, Alex and Max, Ashley and Danielle, Deion and Dustin and Sophia. Countless extended family and friends will also miss her.

A viewing will be at Riewerts Memorial Home, 187 South Washington Ave., Bergenfield from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday. A funeral is Monday at 10 a.m. at the funeral home following by interment at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

Photo: Amanda Paige Aujero, 19 (Courtesy of GoFundMe, a promotional partner of Patch)