Melinda T. Pastorella

Melinda Pastorella of Port Arthur, Texas, passed away peacefully on March 29, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones.

Melinda-known and cherished as "MeMe"- was truly the heart of life for those who knew her. She was strong, funny, stubborn, and radiant, with a spirit that could light up any room she entered. Her presence was comforting, her laughter unforgettable, and her love unwavering.

She was devoted sister, daughter, mother, grandmother, and aunt. Her family was everything to her-her sister, her children, her grandchildren, and all her nieces and nephews. Though she experienced the deep pain of losing her children and grandchildren far too soon, her heart never stopped loving them. She carried them with her always, holding onto the hope and peace of the day she would be united with them again.

Melinda was a woman of deep faith, devoted to the Lord our God. Her strength was rooted in that faith, and it carried her through both joy and hardship with grace.

She embraced life with the warmth and passion of a classic Italian woman-full of love, honesty, and just the right amount of stubbornness. She found joy in the simple things and sharing laughter with those around her.

Melinda is survived by her three brothers and one sister, her bonus daughters, Tania Chambers, Cathy Broussard, and Sarah Picou. Melinda was blessed beyond measure with her loving nieces and nephews, Debbie Davis Block and her husband, Vaughn, Zaeda Morell, Carla Davis Craddock and her husband, Billy, Buddy Davis and his wife, Debbie, Anita Conway and her husband, Glenn, Gillian Craddock and her son, Otto, and Derek Davis and his wife, Kellie. She will further be remembered by her godsons, Joshua Craddock and his wife, Tori, and Daniel Conway, as well as her extended family including nieces, nephews, greats and great-greats.

Melinda is preceded in death by her son, Kenneth Ray Malin, Jr. and her daughter, Tina Marie Malin Barbosa, her grandchildren, Darrell “DJ” Wayne Barbosa, Jr., Dylan Wade Barbosa, and Hannah Paige Barbosa, her parents, Carlo and Irene Pastorella, her brother, Bobby Pastorella, her sister, Judy Pastorella Davis, the father of her children, Kenneth Ray Malin, Sr., a nephew of Eugene Davis, and a godson, Khayman Davis.

Melinda be will be remembered at a graveside service to be held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 10:00am at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in Port Neches, Texas.

Above all, Melinda's heart was pure. She loved deeply, cared endlessly, and gave so much of herself to others. The love she poured into her family will continue to live on in each person she touched.

The family would like to offer a special thanks to Cascades Rehabilitation Center for all the love and care they showed Melinda.

‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Matthew 25:21