Virginia Mela Yusko

Virginia Natasha Larissa Mela Yusko, whose warm and courageous heart touched the lives of Italians, Venezuelans, Floridians and New Yorkers, died April 15, 2025, in Tufts Medical Center, Boston. She was 56 and lived in Guilderland, N.Y.

Beset by cancer as a teen, Virginia nonetheless exhibited an incredibly positive attitude and a strong work ethic throughout her life. Those qualities, along with her faith and angelic spirit, helped her to survive and fulfill her dreams.

Virginia made balancing her family and professional lives look easy and gave 100% to both. A devoted wife and loving mother, she dedicated 27 years to Cotler Architecture in Latham, N.Y., starting as office manager and ultimately becoming a partner and business manager.

Born in Valencia, Venezuela, Virginia immigrated to America in 1980 with her parents, Cesar Mela and Rosa Luraschi, and three siblings, settling in Plantation, Fla. A couple of years later, she became seriously ill at age 15 with stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma, a diagnosis she overcame, but the radiation treatment she received caused long-term damage to her heart.

Virginia graduated from Plantation High School and attended Florida Atlantic University. She loved children and supervised a child care center in South Florida. She served as a source of strength and guidance even as she mourned the unexpected passing of her father, an architect who also died at a relatively young age during Easter week.

In her 20s, Virginia followed her dreams to upstate New York, where she eventually started her career with Cotler Architecture. She married in 2000 at the Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs and formally took the oath as an American during a naturalization ceremony in downtown Albany.

Virginia spoke three languages fluently. Serving and eating food with others brought her great joy, especially during holidays. She liked introducing Americans to arepas, but also specialized in classic Italian dishes and “taco Tuesdays.” Her spaces were littered with cookbooks and scribbled recipes.

Virginia listened to others and provided compassionate and pragmatic advice. People trusted her judgment because her words flowed from the heart, a heart that was grounded in a deep respect for life. She treated everyone with respect and earned the respect of others through kindness and generosity.

A longtime resident of Guilderland, Virginia is survived by her husband, Dennis Yusko, and son, Dario Yusko; brothers, Roberto and Ricardo Mela; sister, Hilda Portwood; brother and sisters-in-laws, nieces and a host of close family and friends across Italy, Venezuela and the U.S.

A memorial mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 17 in Christ the King Church, Guilderland.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Virginia’s memory may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.