Victoria Zardoya’s death at age 20 brought an outpouring of grief from her family, friends and the Giudice family, including her lifelong best friend Milania Giudice. The young University of Tampa student died in July 2026 after suffering fatal injuries in a fall while visiting the historic Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key, Florida.
Reports later indicated that Victoria was to be memorialized in her home state of New Jersey on August 13. However, publicly available reporting does not clearly establish the exact venue, time, or whether the gathering was a traditional funeral, memorial service, or private family ceremony.
Latest Update: September 28, 2026
As of September 28, 2026, Victoria Zardoya’s death and the official cause and manner of death have been confirmed. The District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office said her autopsy was completed on August 3 after organ donation and determined that her cause of death was craniocerebral trauma. The manner of death was ruled an accident.
Regarding funeral arrangements, later reporting stated that Victoria would be laid to rest or memorialized in New Jersey during the week of August 13. A report published around the time of a New Jersey court hearing involving Milania Giudice referred to an August 13 memorial for Victoria.
There is no reliable evidence supporting an exact public funeral venue or time, so those details should not be added without confirmation from Victoria’s family, a funeral home, or an official service announcement.
When Was Victoria Zardoya’s Funeral or Memorial?
Available reporting places a memorial for Victoria Zardoya in New Jersey on or around August 13, 2026. The information appeared in reporting about Milania Giudice’s plans to be in New Jersey for a family event while mourning Victoria.
The wording in public reports is important because some sources refer to the event as a memorial rather than providing details of a formal funeral. Without an official family notice, it is safest to describe August 13 as a reported memorial date rather than claim a specific type of funeral ceremony.
Where Was Victoria Zardoya’s Funeral Held?
The exact public venue has not been reliably established in the sources reviewed for this article. Victoria was from New Jersey, and reports said she would be memorialized in her home state.
Teresa Giudice also shared an image associated with a church service after Victoria’s death, accompanied by a message expressing love for Victoria. That supports the existence of a memorial or remembrance gathering but does not by itself establish the location or date of a formal funeral.
Who Was Victoria Zardoya?
Victoria Zardoya was a 20-year-old University of Tampa student from New Jersey. She was especially known publicly because of her lifelong friendship with Milania Giudice, daughter of The Real Housewives of New Jersey stars Teresa and Joe Giudice.
Teresa Giudice said Victoria was like a daughter to her and described the bond between Victoria and Milania as one that had lasted since childhood. The two friends also attended the University of Tampa together.
Milania described Victoria as her best friend, sister, soulmate and partner in crime in a tribute following the death. Other members of the Giudice family also publicly mourned Victoria.
What Happened to Victoria Zardoya?
Victoria was visiting the Tampa area in July 2026 when she and friends went to Egmont Key. According to an account shared by friend Victoria Silberbusch at the request of Victoria’s family, the group was exploring the historic Fort Dade ruins when Victoria suffered a devastating fall.
Her friends immediately attempted to reach her and contacted emergency responders. Friends at nearby boats reportedly used flares to help first responders locate the group, while others stayed with Victoria until help arrived. She was eventually taken from the island and flown to a hospital.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Victoria had suffered the fall and remained hospitalized before her death.
When Did Victoria Zardoya Die?
Victoria died in July 2026 after the injuries she sustained during the fall. Public reports differ slightly in how they describe the date, with some reporting her death as July 26 and others as July 27.
The District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the medical findings after completing the autopsy. The office determined that craniocerebral trauma caused her death and classified the manner as accidental.
Victoria Zardoya Cause of Death
Victoria’s official cause of death was craniocerebral trauma, according to the District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office. The manner of death was officially classified as an accident.
Craniocerebral trauma refers to serious injury involving the brain and skull caused by an external force. In Victoria’s case, the medical examiner’s ruling followed the injuries she suffered in the fall at the Fort Dade ruins.
The autopsy was completed on August 3 after the organ-donation process.
Victoria Zardoya’s Organ Donation
Victoria’s family and friends also spoke about her organ donation after her death. Milania said Victoria was helping save lives through donation, while Victoria’s mother, Maritza Zardoya, provided additional clarification about the number of organs involved.
E! News reported that Victoria’s family said her donation could help eight people. The story became another part of the tributes shared after her death.
Milania Giudice’s Tribute to Victoria
Milania and Victoria had been close since childhood. After Victoria’s death, Milania shared photographs and memories of their friendship and wrote about how difficult it was to accept that her friend was gone.
Milania later got a tattoo reading “Baby V” on her wrist as a permanent tribute to Victoria. The tattoo was shown publicly in August as Milania continued to mourn her friend.
Milania also remained close to Victoria’s family after the death. Her sister Gia Giudice told E! News that Milania was spending time at Victoria’s family’s home and supporting them through their grief.
Teresa and Joe Giudice Remember Victoria
Teresa Giudice publicly mourned Victoria and described her as someone who had grown up alongside Milania. She recalled watching the two girls grow up and later attend the University of Tampa together.
Joe Giudice also described Victoria as being like a daughter to him. His tribute reflected the family’s long relationship with Victoria and the shock of losing someone who had been part of their lives for many years.
Quick Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Victoria Zardoya |
| Age | 20 |
| State | New Jersey |
| College | University of Tampa |
| Date of accident | July 24, 2026 |
| Location of accident | Fort Dade ruins, Egmont Key, Florida |
| Cause of death | Craniocerebral trauma |
| Manner of death | Accident |
| Funeral/memorial | Reportedly held or scheduled in New Jersey around August 13, 2026 |
| Best-known friendship | Milania Giudice |
| Organ donation | Family said her donation helped save lives |
Reader Questions
When was Victoria Zardoya’s funeral?
Reports indicated that Victoria Zardoya was to be memorialized in New Jersey on August 13, 2026. The exact nature and details of the private service have not been fully documented in reliable public reporting.
Where was Victoria Zardoya’s funeral held?
Public reports identify New Jersey as the location of her reported memorial. A specific funeral home, church, cemetery or venue has not been reliably confirmed.
How old was Victoria Zardoya when she died?
Victoria Zardoya was 20 years old. She was a University of Tampa student and a longtime friend of Milania Giudice.
What was Victoria Zardoya’s cause of death?
The medical examiner ruled that Victoria died from craniocerebral trauma. The manner of death was determined to be an accident.
How did Victoria Zardoya die?
Victoria suffered fatal injuries after falling while exploring the historic Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key, Florida, on July 24, 2026. She was transported to a hospital but later died from her injuries.
Was Victoria Zardoya Milania Giudice’s best friend?
Yes. Victoria and Milania had been close friends since childhood. Milania publicly described Victoria as her best friend and sister, while Teresa Giudice said Victoria was like a daughter to her.
Did Victoria Zardoya attend the University of Tampa?
Yes. Victoria attended the University of Tampa, where Milania Giudice also attended. Teresa Giudice referenced their shared college experience in her tribute to Victoria.
Did Victoria Zardoya donate her organs?
Yes. Her family said Victoria became an organ donor after her death. Milania shared that the donation could help save eight lives.
Wrap-Up
Victoria Zardoya’s funeral and memorial became an important moment for her New Jersey family and friends after her sudden death at age 20. Reports indicated that she was memorialized in New Jersey around August 13, although detailed information about the private service has not been widely released.
Her death followed a fall at the historic Fort Dade ruins on Egmont Key while she was visiting Florida with friends. The medical examiner later confirmed craniocerebral trauma as the cause of death and ruled the manner accidental.
Victoria’s memory has continued through tributes from Milania Giudice, the Giudice family, her relatives and friends. Her reported organ donation also became part of her legacy, with her family saying that it helped save other lives.
Disclaimer
DISCLAIMER: This article is based on publicly available reporting reviewed as of September 28, 2026. Funeral and memorial details can be private and may not be fully reported publicly. The reported August 13 New Jersey memorial should not be interpreted as confirmation of a specific funeral venue or ceremony type unless the family or an official service provider confirms those details.
