March 6, 1926 - October 14, 2020
Emilio Q. Reyes, Jr. of Woodcliff Lake, NJ died peacefully, but suddenly on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 11:15pm in Valley Hospital, Ridgewood, NJ, from respiratory failure due to COVID-19. He had End Stage Renal Disease and was receiving in-home peritoneal dialysis since April 17, 2018. He had suffered a stroke on September 21 and entered rehab on September 28, 2020.
Emilio is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Ophelia Santiago Reyes, their four children, and their spouses: Raoul S. Reyes of Woodcliff Lake, NJ; Rachel Reyes-Skovira and John Skovira of Park Ridge, NJ; Roxanne Reyes McHugh and Dr. Joseph McHugh of Athens, GA; and Roman S. Reyes of Woodcliff Lake, NJ. Emilio is also survived by six grandchildren and their spouses: Gabrielle Skovira Marucci and Andrew Marucci, currently stationed overseas; John-Delfin Reyes Skovira and Kristin Skovira of Mechanicsburg, PA; Isabella Reyes Skovira of Park Ridge, NJ; Rebecca Skovira Fellows and John Fellows of Tolland, CT; Terrence Reyes McHugh of Washington DC; and Treasa Reyes McHugh of Athens, GA. Emilio was additionally blessed and is survived by three great granddaughters, Margot Jane, Nina Grace, and Eliza Fe Skovira of Mechanicsburg,PA.
Emilio was born March 6, 1926 in Manila, Philippines, to Emilio Pangan Reyes, Sr. (June 12, 1898-May 21, 1955), engineer, and Paz Aguilar Quiason (June 28, 1899-January 14, 1949). He was the oldest of seven siblings. He was predeceased by his sister Pilar Q. Reyes-Gonzalez, who passed on September 4, 2002 at 68-years-old; by his only brother, Eufracio Q. Reyes, who passed on September 1, 2011, at 81-years-old; and earlier this year, by his sister, Felicisima Q. Reyes, who passed on February 10, 2020, at 91-years-old. He is survived by three sisters: Generosa Q. Reyes-Shaw, Martha Q. Reyes-Horrigan, and Esperanza Q. Reyes-Castelo.
In 1949, when Emilio was 22-years-old, his mother died on January 14 when she was just 49-years-old. Two months later, Emilio graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music on March 23, 1949. He played the trumpet in the ROTC band while earning his music degree in violin. His career as a violinist included serving as the Concert Master of the Manila Symphony Orchestra, music professor at St. Joseph’s College and Philippine Women’s University, playing under Arthur Fiedler (conductor), and accompanying Beverly Sills (soprano).
In 1955, when Emilio was 29-years-old, his father died at the age of 56. Being the eldest of seven siblings and with the nurturing and help of his grandmother "Apong Bang", Emilio lived a very close knit life with his brother and five sisters.
On May 11, 1957, Emilio Q. Reyes, Jr. married Ophelia R. Santiago. They immigrated to New York in 1970 and, in 1971, their four children joined them in Bloomfield, NJ before settling as a family in Wappingers Falls, NY. Later, all became US residents. In America, Emilio worked for EJ Korvettes; Matteawan Correctional Facility, as a music therapist and teacher; Gucci on Fifth Avenue; Sears Roebuck (payroll); and CVS.
In his retirement years, he shared his talents and love of music with his four children, each of his six grandchildren, and the church choir at Our Lady Mother of the Church, in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. He was always ready to give music lessons or to accompany the singing of Christmas carols on the violin at local nursing homes with his grandkids. He brought his family together at OLMC on Easter and Christmas with his gift of song.
Emilio Q. Reyes, Jr. will be remembered as a very smart, kind, and devoted family man and community servant. He was an avid reader who enjoyed newspapers, books, and Readers Digest. He was a road warrior who would happily drive 3 miles across town or 3,000 miles cross-country to visit family and loved ones wherever they may be. He enjoyed watching Jeopardy everyday at 7pm and taking his wife, Ophelia, to different Catholic churches in neighboring towns for mass. Emilio was a prayerful man who travelled to St. Anne DeBeaupré in Quebec, to Rome to visit the Pope, to the Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Brazil, and to Fatima in Portugal to give thanks for his many blessings.
The family extends their gratitude to Dr. C. Vamenta, Dr. D. Wilkin, Dr. J. Koslowsky, Dr. A. Hadi, Westwood Cardiology Group, and, most especially, to the staff of DaVita Radburn, who all helped maintain an excellent quality of life for Emilio until his 94th year. We also thank Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, David Carradine and Walt Disney, who filled Emilio’s years with adventure.
There will be a public, socially-distanced wake at Becker Funeral Home in Westwood on Sunday, November 1, 2020 from 2-6pm. Attendees are kindly required to wear masks. The family of Emilio Q. Reyes, Jr. will celebrate his life in a private mass, on Monday, November 2, 2020, 10am at Our Lady Mother of the Church in Woodcliff Lake, NJ. To join us in prayer, access a livestream of the Mass on the OLMC Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/wclolmc/videos Final entombment will be at Garden of Memories in Washington Twp, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made “In Memory of Emilio Reyes” for the charitable works of "Our Lady Mother of the Church" at 209 Woodcliff Avenue, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677, USA.
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