Obituary of Carmelita Dolores Mino

Carmelita Dolores Mino, affectionately known as Mella, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 in Reston, Virginia, surrounded by her family. Mella was born on September 23, 1931 in New Hartford, New York, along with her twin sister, Stasia Ruggiero, daughters of Antonetta and Vincenzzo Surace. She attended New Hartford schools and worked as a shipping and receiving manager for the Faster Form Corporation for many years.

On June 26, 1954, Mella married Francis (Fran) N. Mino, of Utica, New York, and they enjoyed 54 years of marriage before Fran’s passing in 2008. Mella and Fran had two daughters, Terry Mino Stewart and Frankie Mino Chuday. Mella and Fran built their family home together on Aitken Ave., where they lived for over 50 years. Mella loved cooking, gardening, and living within walking distance of her sisters, brothers, and many other relatives. She was an avid member of the St. Anne’s church community and the local VFW post.

Besides her loving husband, Mella is pre-deceased by her twin sister and brother-in-law, Stasia and John Ruggiero; her brother and sister-in-law, Rocco and Angie Surace; her brother Joseph Surace; her brother and sister-in-law, Ronald and Celeste Surace; and her sister and brother-in-law, Geraldine and Louis Campola. Mella is also pre-deceased by other beloved relatives, John Ruggiero, Jr.; Gaetano Fornino; and Vincent Ruggiero, Jr.

In addition to her two daughters, Mella is survived by her sons-in-law, Scott Stewart and Rich Chuday, and her five grandchildren: Lauren, Kim, Meredith, Nolan, and Jenn.

Services for Mella will be held at a later date in Utica, New York for those wishing to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mella’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.