Rachel F. (Forbes) Wilbur, 90, of Mattapoisett passed away Monday January 27, 2020 at home after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late William K. Wilbur.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late James and Elise (St. Pierre) Forbes, she was raised and educated in Matane, Quebec, Canada, and returned to New Bedford at 16 years of age to continue her education. She graduated from Kinyon-Campbell Business School with a Bookkeeper Certificate. Mrs. Wilbur was formerly employed as a bookkeeper for White’s Farm Dairy. She spent most of her life in Mattapoisett, where she and her beloved Bill developed the family farm on Oliver’s Lane, and later West Hill, building nine homes over a 20 year period.
She was “Memere” to many families and friends.
She is survived by six children, Kenneth W. Wilbur, Roger F. Wilbur and his wife Jill, Diane M. Menard and her husband Wayne, Gail A. Joseph, William J. Wilbur and his wife Sue, and Nancy F. Clarke and her husband Kenneth (Bub); her sister, Rolande Roy; a special family friend, Donald Philla; 11 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a step-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Heidi Marie (Wilbur) Brickell, and “son-in-law” Stephen DeCosta.
Her Funeral will be held on Saturday February 1, 2020 at 7:45 AM from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett, followed by her Funeral Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, Fairhaven at 9 AM. Burial will be in St. Anthony’s Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Friday, January 31, 2020, from 4-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
