Vilma Forbes-Mahabir
Author name
August 9,1937 - September 30, 2023
Funeral Service Date: Saturday October 14, 2023 Time: 10: 00am Location: Christ Covenant Church 4700 SW 188th Ave Southwest Ranches, FL 33332
Burial Date: Saturday October 14, 2023 Time: 12:45 pm Location: Lauderdale Memorial Park 2001 SW 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
Vilma Evadne Forbes, was born in Harrywatch, Manchester, on August 9th, 1937, to Edward L Forbes and Myrtle Mae Wolfe-Forbes. Her siblings were Joyce, June , Sylvia, Yvonne, Madge,Ted and Dutton. At age 14, she received a scholarship to study at St. Monica’s College.
Upon completing her diploma, she attended Fitz-Henley Business College, where she acquired accounting and secretarial skills. Afterwards, she was employed at Samson’s, where she met her first husband, Robert Mitchell, and became the mother of Robert “Nick” and Natalie Mitchell.
In 1965, she earned a sales certificate from the prestigious DALE CARNEGIE and was subsequently employed at International Harvesters.
In December 1967, she met her future husband of 54 years, Ansel Mahabir, and they were blessed with two children, Jules and Ricardo.
In 1972, she attended the College of Arts, Science, and Technology to further her accounting knowledge. She was hired at JPS and subsequently Workers Bank, where she started her career in bank auditing.
In 1979, Vilma migrated to New York to join her parents and sisters. She worked as an auditor at Marine Midland Bank on Wall Street. It was there that she caught the computer "bug," and with her business partner opened one of the first computer stores in the Wall Street area in 1982.
In 1988, she moved to Florida, where she lived and worked until her passing. She opened two other businesses and retired at the age of 82. Vilma had an exceptional relationship with her children and grandchildren, sharing her faith, her love for traveling and meeting new people, her recipes, and her love of entertaining. She lived life to the fullest, with joy and enthusiasm.
Her sisters were her closest friends and accomplices in mischief. Aunt Melrose, her best friend of 49 years, her partner in crime and her biggest cheerleader. Melrose passed away in August of this year, where she went ahead to prepare the welcoming committee for her dear friend Vilma. Vilma gave of herself fully and with her whole heart, whether organizing fundraising events for the Melody Home for Girls in Jamaica or throwing parties to celebrate births, graduations, and baby showers it brought her joy.
Her love of traveling took her to 34 countries and 67 cities.
Vilma is survived by her husband, Ansel Mahabir, her sons Nick, Brent, Jules, Ricardo, and her daughter, Natalie. She is also survived by her granddaughters Amanda, Elodie, Alexandra, and Emma, and grandsons Timothee, Ryan, and Noah, her great-grandchildren, Maui and Hailey, and her siblings Sylvia Brown, Yvonne Edwards, Madge Stanford and Ted Forbes, along with nieces, nephews, cousins, and beloved friends. And apart from her “biological” children and grandchildren, she also leaves behind scores of others who lovingly call her Mom and Grandma.
Vilma will forever remain in our hearts and will be remembered for her unwavering faith in Christ and in people, her laughter, her positive spirit, and her confident charm.
Rest in peace, our beloved mother.
October 7, 1965 – July 31, 2025
September 20, 1931 - May 17, 2025
SUNRISE OF LIFE 2/11/1952 SUNSET 7/7/2025
January 3, 1934 - January 5, 2025
June 23, 1946 - July 10, 2025
April 1, 1942 - June 30, 2025
Joan Lee Scheidell, 85, of Hollywood passed away June 13, 2025. Survived by sons Mark (Jeanne) Kovacs and Michael (Maria) Kovacs; daughters Suzanne (Joe) Domenech and Denise (Jim) Ordonez; 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Services will be private.
Martha Clementi, a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend to many, passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 23, 2025, at the age of 97 in Hollywood, FL.
David James Bushing, born November 18, 1968, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2025 at the age of 56 after a nearly three year battle with brain cancer.
Kathleen Sylvester, 82, of Coral Springs, FL. passed away on June 18, 2025.
An honoring of her life will take place at Landmark Funeral Home in Hollywood, Florida on June 29, 2025 between 1:00-3:00 pm.
