Yolanda Teixeira Joia

Yolanda was the loving fiancée of Joshua E. Melendez and the proud, devoted mother of Elias Joia Melendez, who was the center of her world.

Born and raised in New Bedford, Yolanda was the cherished daughter of Manuel and Alice Joia. She graduated from New Bedford High School in 2018 and continued her education at Bristol Community College. Yolanda worked as a paraprofessional at Talbot Middle School, where she cared deeply for the students and staff she worked with each day.

Yolanda loved deeply and brought light, warmth, and energy everywhere she went. She loved music, beach days, camping trips, traveling, and soaking up the sun. She enjoyed going out, making memories with family and friends, and dreamed of seeing the whole world one day. More than anything, she loved being surrounded by the people she cared about most.

To know Yolanda was to know someone full of love, laughter, and compassion. She was an extraordinary daughter, sister, mother, fiancée, and friend whose presence made others feel comfortable, welcomed, and cared for.

In addition to her fiancé, Josh, and her son, Elias, Yolanda is survived by her parents, Manuel and Alice Joia; her siblings, Scott, Shawn, Andrew, Irma, Jonathan, and Edna “Julie”; and many family members and friends who will miss her deeply. She was the granddaughter of the late Maria and Jose Teixeira.

Visitation will be held at Rock Funeral Home, 1285 Ashley Blvd, New Bedford, MA 02745, US, on May 26, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. A funeral service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 400 Cross Rd North, North, Dartmouth, MA 02747, US, on May 27, 2026, at 10:00 am. Burial will be at Pine Grove Cemetery.