Selfless. Electric. Real. Irreplaceable: Ocean County Pair Killed In Crash Touched Everyone They Met

As the strains of Jeremih's "Don't Tell 'Em" come into earshot, Rene Munoz breaks out the dance moves right in the middle of Times Square. Kyia Fredericks, holding his phone as they film on Facebook Live, laughs and makes fun of him.

The nearly 10-minute video, which the two shot in New York City Friday night while they walked to see the group Devil Makes Three in concert, captures what their friends say was their absolute love of life. Fredericks and Munoz say hello to strangers, make faces at the camera, laugh over an encounter where the Predator and Spiderman try to take Rene's phone, and make fun of bags of trash sitting at curbside waiting for pickup.

"Hello, Bricktown, you followed us here!" Fredericks says as they pass the trash, laughing as she makes the comments.

"This is the best night ever," Munoz says a little later. As they walk, Munoz comments that they are headed to see the Devil Makes Three.

"We are the devil makes two for right now," Fredericks says, laughing again.

That video is the last view friends and family have of the two. Fredericks, 25, of Brick, and Munoz, 29, of Toms River, were killed Saturday afternoon in a crash on the Garden State Parkway as the two returned from the concert. New Jersey State Police say Fredericks was driving a Chevrolet Camaro in the express lanes of the Parkway when for reasons police have not been able to determine, the Camaro stopped in the center lane at about milepost 120.9 in Aberdeen Township. It was hit from behind by a GMC Yukon driven by a Howell Township man, state police said. He has not been charged in the crash, police said.

A witness told NJ.com that he saw Fredericks and Munoz, who was in the passenger seat, with their hands out the windows of the Camaro, waving for drivers to go around the car before the crash occurred.

"I spoke to him at 3:18 p.m. He told me he loves me and (asked) what's for dinner," his mother, Denise Castellitto-Munoz, said in a post on Facebook. Minutes later, both he and Fredericks were dead, though it took several agonizing hours to confirm that, after a stranger who found Munoz's smartphone at the scene posted a message about having found it that mentioned a "major accident" on the Parkway.

Both Castellitto-Munoz and Mayo Ferrano, Fredericks' mother, said police told them their children died instantly.

"Thank God that she did not suffer," Mayo Ferrano said.

The deaths, however, have left their friends and family grieving deeply and holding onto memories of two people who they say lived life the way it should be lived.

"Rene was the most lovable, optimistic young man," Denise Castellitto-Munoz said. "His love for life and family was extraordinary. He brought sunshine into anyone's life he met and everyone was the better for knowing him."

"Kyia was a very, very strong woman," Mayo Ferrano said. "She liked to be the center of the whole family." But at the same time, her mother said, "she was very humble, very caring. She will forget about herself if she sees someone in need."

In a thread on Facebook responding to a request for comments about the two, dozens of the friends of Munoz and Fredericks said the two shared many of the same traits: always happy, always smiling, genuine, loving and the kind of people who made strangers feel instantly accepted and part of their world.

The two were "absolute definition of the word 'selfless,'" Dave Lowcher wrote. "Kyia and Rene never turned their backs on the people they blessed with their friendship and generosity. They didn't make enemies, they danced. They spread love. Always the party planners, the business handlers, the 'back-havers.'"

"(Kyia) would greet me with a warm welcome as if I was a family member," Kelly Shepsko wrote. "Rene was always that warm and welcoming type of person too. They could both light up the room."

Fredericks was an artist, friends and family said. She was working for a law firm while pursuing her art in her free time, art that was influenced by her love of Halloween. Rene loved sports and was a diehard fan of the New York Giants and New York Rangers, and he enjoyed playing video games with friends and just hanging out. Both of them had a deep love of music.

"(Kyia) always had music playing in her room," her sister, Cristina Nop, wrote. "She would lose sleep just so she can make it to all the events for her friends while also balancing out her job and family obligations. And she did that with grace! She didn't want to miss anything life threw at her. She was bold, fearless, and wasn't afraid to speak up for what was right."

"Kyia's name means 'pleasant surprise' in Polynesian and that she was," her sister, Sirena Fredericks, said by email. Her birthday was Oct. 28, "a pumpkin baby. She was a Halloween spirit, she saw beauty in the darkness. This helped her form her art." She specialized in freehand sketching and acrylic painting, Sirena Fredericks said.

Kyia Fredericks was the youngest of the three girls and had a brother, John, who is younger, Mayo Ferrano said. She said Kyia watched over him and helped him from the time he was young, she said. In addition to her sisters and brother, Fredericks is survived by her father, Dreux; her biological father, John L. Fredericks; her step-siblings Susanne and Dreux Jr., and nieces, a nephew and extended family, according to her obituary.

"She gave you her time, driving you here and there, babysitting your kids, simply being there for you because she thinks you shouldn't be left alone that night," Cristina Nop said. "She loved her nieces and nephew so much, making silly faces with them on Snapchat and finding excuses to babysit them. FaceTiming was never enough for her. "

Munoz, who also is survived by his younger sister, Sarajane Schisano, and his grandmother, Catherine Laguardia, worked at The Sawmill Restaurant in Seaside Heights and had been a bartender at Aqua Blu and had been studying at Ocean County College after the family moved to the area from Florida several years ago. He also worked at Game Stop, according to one of his friends.

"Rene loved all of his friends and always spoke so highly of his family and how much he loved his mother, grandmother, and sister," Christopher Riley, who had known Rene for about 10 years, wrote.

"(Rene) spent every Sunday in football season at (Captain) Hooks bar with his mom watching the games," Christopher Riley said.

Mikey Schmidt, who started the Facebook thread, recounted a memory of crashing on the couch at the home where Rene lived with his mother after a party: "Prior to us getting there he told me that we would probably go out to Sawmill (the Sawmill Restaurant in Seaside Heights) to watch the Giants game in the morning and that (Denise) would probably be joining us."

"What I didn't know, " he wrote, addressing the remark to Denise, "was you would be the one waking (us) up in the morning (just some kid on your couch) and telling me 'GET UP! WE'RE GOING TO WATCH THE GIANTS!' And then you refused to let me leave the house without wearing one of Rene's Giants shirts."

"Your son was one of my best friends and I am so happy to be able to say that. Thank you for raising such a great person and beautiful soul," Schmidt wrote.

"The first time I had ever met Rene was in January 2012," Jessica Coppola wrote. "The Giants just won a playoff game to go to the Super Bowl and he was the happiest kid ever. He ran out to his car and came back with a huge cookie that had the Giants symbol on it and shared it with everyone."

"(They were) amazing, loving, caring people who would do anything for you. The most fun, beautiful people I have ever met in my life," Amy Ramsthaler wrote.

"Kyia would lose sleep just so she can make it to all the events for her friends while also balancing out her job and family obligations," Cristina Nop wrote. "She didn't want to miss anything life threw at her."

"I worked with Kyia at the Mantoloking Road Pub for a short time," Cassandra Mills wrote. "Her best friend Tara and I were both working Thanksgiving Eve and it was beyond packed. Kyia wasn't even suppose to be working, she was there having fun, saw the overwhelmed look on my face and immediately put her drink down and started helping me part through the crowd to to grab as many glasses and bottles for refills and cleanup. She was more than happy to help and did it with a smile the rest of the night."

"That gesture alone showed how amazing of a person she was," Cassandra Mills wrote.

The Mantoloking Road Pub is holding a fundraiser Thursday evening to help Fredericks' parents with the cost of her funeral. The fundraiser runs from 6 p.m. to close, the restaurant said.

Heather Panza, who shared a passion for music, including the Warped Tour, with Rene, said: "I had a man fall on me during the sum41 show. Rene threw him off of me and picked me up after, laughing (and) asking if I'm OK. Always checked up on me, came to my aid when I needed him, was always a shoulder to cry on, had the most amazing, contagious smile and laugh."

"Kyia was just a gifted witty soul," Jamie Velardi said. "Rene was infectious. He was such a light that people were drawn to."

"The first time meeting him he made it seem like we knew each other for years," Buggie Lynn wrote. "She was the queen of Halloween. She accepted you for who you are, she was ridiculously funny and original."

"(Rene) would always check in just to say hi," Angela Campolattaro said. "He would never let someone feel alone or lost, he was compassionate towards others.

"Rene is the most uplifting, genuine, warm, and kind spirited soul I have had the privilege of having as a friend," Brynn Carilli said.

"Kyia always wanted to talk art and photography and normally I would shrug off a conversation like that but with her it was actually enjoyable," Jon Meyer wrote. "She was so creative and talented that you couldn't help but respect her opinions on the topics. Rene to me was just an all around vibe-maker. I always enjoyed having him around because it helped me with a lot of the problems I had."

"Beautiful inside and out," Carol Holcomb wrote. ""I'll look to the sun always to see your face, Kyia."

"Rene was the most fun, outgoing, spontaneous, free, caring wild spirit," Michelle Marie wrote. "If you were having a bad day be sure Rene would be the one to make it all go away."

"Kyia was always down for an adventure and a good time and never wanted to see her friends upset," Tess Youmans said.

"Rene was a great friend, he was very respectful and caring and also was a goofball," Brianna Iacovelli wrote.

"Rene was by far the nicest person I ever got to speak to at the Sawmill," Daniel Brown wrote. "Always felt welcome going to the bar he was serving at. My best conversations were with him."

"Kyia was the one twirling to her vinyls, inviting the world to come play with her," Kate Dora wrote. "She's lived more than some people would over 80 years," Christopher Knighthawk added.

"The first day he met my kids was my daughters 8th birthday celebration," Melissa Benson wrote. "He made sure they had whatever they wanted even when I told them no. I'm forever grateful to have known him and for my children to have known him."

"She was someone to look up to, with her free spirit and caring heart," Alicia Adamczak wrote. "No matter how she was feeling, or what she had going on, if Emelia needed her ... she was there," Maggie Bruno added.

"Without Rene I would never have met the wonderful mother to my children," Richard William Wetherby wrote. "He was the type of dude who could fit in any crowd. One minute he'd be clubbing at Bamboo, the next he'd be trying to go hiking or kayaking. Kyia was more than a friend; she was a sister. She was an aunt to our kids, she loved them as if they were family. They were, because she was."

"Kyia was always there to make us laugh with her dry, yet hilarious, sense of humor," Danielle Holcomb wrote. "If my son had a birthday coming up, she was right there with Pinterest boards and cupcake ideas. She loved art. Everything she gave she made with her heart. I have homemade picture frames and onesies that I will forever cherish. Her memory will be passed on to the little ones she loved so much, her 'dumplings,' all those who considered her an aunt, for she was so good to them. She was so good to us all."

Danielle Rose Feola met Rene when they worked at Six Flags. "We both were new as supervisors and didn't know much. As I got to know Rene more and more we became very close friends and it felt to me I knew him for years."

"I would have never survived my first summer season at the Sawmill if it wasn't for Rene taking time out of his busy bartending duties to help me learn every damn cocktail and beer you could imagine," Breanna Stillwell wrote.

"Rene was someone you wanted to be around not because of where or when but only because he himself could turn a silent room into a nightclub," Tara Wasylak wrote. "Kyia was so unique and elegant but could get down and dirty with the rest of us. She was simple; she flowed. She Was Kyia."

"Kyia was a fresh breath of air. Always smiling, always cracking jokes, and always there to lend a helping hand to anyone in need," Dana Nicole wrote. "She was filled with love for life and it showed in everything she did."

Shana Parrish met Rene in middle school. "We were the short chubby outcasts that became great friends." she wrote. "We were in band together (yeah, we were band nerds). He always could make you smile."

"I was introduced to Rene back in high school," Lisa Jones wrote. "One of the only people I can say that was genuine, respectful, honest."

"As a shy, introverted person, when I went out with my friends I wasn't always the most outgoing. Rene never failed to get me dancing and laughing and having a good time while we were all out. He was always the warm and friendly life of the party," Kristi Paska wrote.

"I can feel the love of their hugs right now," Kelly Keefe wrote. "From the first party I met them, I knew they were one of a kind that would forever have a place in my heart."

"Rene was for sure one of a kind," Cady Remig wrote. "Electric smiles and unequivocated warmth," a Facebook user named Le'Jit Tigglers wrote.

"They both would take their shirts off their backs for anyone and always made you laugh," Yano Gerba wrote.

"Always real. Always positive. We all can learn from this to love more and live each day like it's your last," Tryan Ketcham wrote.

"The amount of joy that these two humans have brought into our lives is simply irreplaceable," Liz Hogan wrote.

The funerals for both are scheduled for this weekend. Visitation for Fredericks will be held Friday at the Weatherhead-Young Funeral Home at the corner of Mantoloking Road and Old Hooper Avenue from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and the funeral Mass is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Church of the Visitation on Mantoloking Road. Munoz's visitation and funeral service also is Friday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals on Route 37 West in Toms River. Denise Castelitto-Munoz said the Friday service will include Mass and a bagpipe salute.

Friends set up a GoFundme campaign to help their families pay for their funeral expenses. (If you would like to contribute, click here.)

In addition, the Ocean Partnership for Children has set up an art foundation in Fredericks' honor to fund art therapy for children in need. Those wishing to contribute can make checks out to the Friends of Ocean Partnership for Children and put in the memo section "Kyia Fredricks Fund." They can be mailed to Ocean Partnership for Children, c/o Mary Jo Buchanan or Keith Savage, 1610 Route 88 West, Suite 303, Brick, NJ 08724. Contributions also can be made online by clicking here.

"She forgave easily, never judged you despite your flaws and imperfections, and loved you so deeply," Cristina Nop wrote. " She was bold, fearless, and wasn't afraid to speak up for what was right."

"The heartache is unbearable, but I know she'd say right now, 'why the sad face, smile a little,' with that beautiful contagious smile with her head tilted," Cristina wrote.

Mayo Ferrano said she takes comfort not only in her faith in God, but also in the outpouring of support from friends who have visited her home since Fredericks' death, so many that the house has overflowed with people. Visitors have included not only friends of Fredericks, but their parents as well, including one couple whose son died several months ago. "They told me, 'When we lost our son, your daughter came every morning and talked us about our son. It made our day start bright every day,'" she said.

"It's unbelievable that she left us too early," Mayo Ferrano said. "(God) took Kyia with a friend. I know she is happy where she is."

"He was the best son a mother could hope for and the sun will shine a little less bright," Denise Castellitto-Munoz said. "God needed an ace for an angel and Rene is now the guardian angel we all hope for."

"Heaven is now equipped with a welcoming committee," Dave Lowcher wrote.

Photos courtesy family and friends of Rene Munoz and Kyia Fredericks; lead photo from the Facebook Live video Rene posted the night the two were in New York for the Devil Makes Three concert.