Amanda Rios

AMANDA CHRISTINE RIOS

9/24/76 - 9/24/24

What joy and light and LOVE and goodness she brought to the world and the lives she touched for those 48 years. She passed away on her birthday!

Amanda, a loving daughter, sister, mother, niece, and friend, went home to be with the Lord, loved ones who went before her, and all the Saints in Glory. She was born September 24, 1976, at Georgia Baptist Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, to Antonio (Tony) L. and Colline Roberts Rios. She attended Main Street and Annistown elementary schools, where she was active in the gifted and honors programs, Shiloh middle school where she participated in the Symphony Orchestra and Odyssey of the Mind Teams among many other activities, The DeKalb Center for the Performing Arts, where she was occupied with Vocal Jazz, Syncopated Piano, theatrical productions and the tennis team, and she graduated from Woodward Academy, touching countless lives along the way. Amanda studied at Simmons college in Boston, where she volunteered at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, Georgia Perimeter College's Nursing Program and later in their Bio-Medical Engineering Program. While in the Nursing Program and struggling to raise her three young children she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which she spent the next 21 years fiercely battling as it slowly ravaged her body to a state of quadriplegia. Although her body was crippled, her undying positive spirit grew stronger as she spread joy and inspiration to all those around her.

In all of her early endeavors she unfailingly strived for superlative performance: Piano music adjudication always superior Violin, not just be in the school orchestra, but be First Violin, and not just school, but MYSO, Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra with every Saturday private lessons with Julia Waugh Tennis, freshman high school year-number 1 single on the Varsity team. Later, neighborhood ALTA team, winning match for City Division title (just before her diagnosis) she proudly displayed that Atlanta Lawn Tennis trophy silver tray, ALWAYS. Whatever her pursuit, she approached it with a passion, even her cherished friendships. With a seven-year difference in their ages, she always saw herself as a proud supporter of her brother Josh. She could be found in the gym cheering for him on the basketball court and in the stands at his baseball games, ALTA tennis matches, and fiercely LOVING him in all his endeavors. She was a devoted sister and involved herself in many shenanigans with him and his friends. Oh how she adored her Josh and Megan ! Despite her physical limitations, she was a hands-on supporter of her children's scholastic and athletic enterprises: Coaching and sponsoring Isabella's Odyssey of the Mind Team or cheering her and her softball team or Choral Performances.

Enjoying Jordan's orchestra performances or football or wrestling competitions. Acting as dugout mom and ardent supporter for Gabe's baseball teams through the years, even traveling for Allstar and travel team competitions and maneuvering her wheelchair in the stands to cheer him and his Parkview football team.

Always the strong inspiring mother, constantly loving her children and their many friends Manda was preceded in death by her grandparents, William R. and Christine C. Roberts and Jose and Maria Rios and great aunt and uncle, Lorenzo and Juanita Briones and her beloved soulmate of the last 8 years, Peter Dykstra. She is survived by her parents Tony and Colline Rios, her brother Joshua Rios and his beloved wife Megan, her children, sons Jordan Lucas and Gabriel Lucas and daughter Isabella Strass and her beloved husband Matthew, her uncle William C. (Bill) Roberts, many cousins and extended family, and her steadfast caregiver for the last 9 years Jenice Richards, and so many dear friends who she cherished. She also counted those dear souls at The Shepherd Center and special doctors and staff at Piedmont Hospital who helped care for her as part of her extended family. Most of all Amanda leaves behind a legacy of inspiration and love and fierce determination to live fully through each and every physical battle thrown at her. Always positive and upbeat in her spirit and faith in her Lord, she greeted each day with such a brave attitude for the adventure that lay ahead.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday, October 5 at 11:00 AM, with a reception to follow at A S Turner on North Decatur Road.

There will be a graveside service at 3:00 PM at Crestlawn Cemetery on Marietta Boulevard.

A time for visitation and viewing will be available on Friday, October 4, from 4:00 to 8:00 and prior to the service on Saturday.