Carmelita Villa Mendoza, lovingly known as Bebet, and affectionately called Baby, Lita, Carms, and later Carmie, passed away peacefully on March 23, 2026, at 5:12 p.m. in Tampa, Florida, at the age of 61. Born in Marikina City, Philippines, Carmelita was a proud woman whose life was defined by determination, devotion to family, hard work, and an unwavering spirit.

Carmelita was a woman who made an impression wherever she went. She was headstrong, spirited, caring, sassy, funny, nurturing, and sometimes wonderfully stubborn and dramatic. She carried herself with natural elegance and loved jewelry, shopping, dancing, singing, beautifully styled hair, and always looking polished and put together. Her bright energy and distinctive presence made her someone who was easily recognized and remembered.

She graduated from Roosevelt College in 1981 and earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Santo Tomas in 1985. She began her banking career in the Philippines with Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and CityTrust before moving to Tampa, Florida, in 2001.

Carmelita went on to build a career spanning more than two decades with Bank of America, where she ultimately served as a Relationship Banker. She was a dedicated team player who took pride in providing excellent customer service and supporting those around her. Her commitment was recognized with an award celebrating 20 years of service with Bank of America. Her strong work ethic and sense of responsibility reflected her desire to provide stability and security for the people she loved.

Family

Carmelita was the cherished youngest and only daughter of Lilia S. Villa and the late Armando D. Villa, and the beloved younger sister of Norberto S. Villa of the Philippines and Rolando S. Villa of Colorado.

Her eldest brother remains in the Philippines with his wife, Pricilla, and their five sons. Carmelita shared a special bond with her first four nephews, when she was still in the Philippines, showering them with plenty of love and affection to spare. Her second brother, Rolando, lives in Colorado with his wife, Lilian, and their son.

She was the beloved wife of Alberto S. Mendoza, with whom she shared nearly 25 years of marriage, and the loving mother of her only daughter, Cherisse V. Mendoza. Cherisse was the Villa family's first granddaughter and only granddaughter, bringing a special joy to her parents.

Carmelita was Filipino, born and raised in Marikina City. She spoke Tagalog and English fluently, carrying her language, culture, traditions, and values with her when she made her home in Florida. In 2003, she helped petition for her parents to come to the United States so they could be reunited with their first granddaughter.

A devout Catholic, Carmelita carried her faith throughout her life and is now reunited in Heaven with her beloved father.

The Things She Loved

Outside of work and family, Carmelita loved the things that made her feel beautiful, confident, and happy. She loved jewelry, shopping, skincare, her daily hair routine, dancing, and singing, and took pride in always looking polished and put together. Her favorite color was apple green, and she had a special love for roses, especially the beautiful flower arrangements her husband made for their family.

She had a sweet tooth and especially loved chocolates, peanuts, and halo-halo, her favorite Filipino dessert. She also loved anything her husband cooked, from Filipino favorites to American comfort food, and enjoyed the meals he lovingly prepared for their family.

Music brought her great joy. Her favorite singer was Nonoy Zuñiga, whom she had known during their university years. She also enjoyed dancing, including Zumba, and singing along to music. Whether she was getting her hair done, following her skincare routine, choosing a piece of jewelry, enjoying a favorite dessert, or simply spending time with family, Carmelita appreciated life's beautiful details.

Her Final Chapter

Carmelita's final years were marked by a courageous battle with cancer. In March 2023, she was diagnosed with Stage IV endometrial cancer and began chemotherapy in May 2023, completing six cycles over approximately four months.

Although her initial treatment brought periods of hope and stability, her cancer journey continued over the following two years. She underwent ongoing medical care, including immunotherapy and thoracentesis, while continuing to work for a time, care for her family, and maintain as much of her independence as possible.

Her condition began to decline significantly toward the end of January 2026. Over the following weeks, she increasingly relied on oxygen and gradually lost the ability to perform many everyday activities, including typing, driving, household tasks, and moving around independently.

During her final weeks, her family remained close and cared for her. Her brother and sister-in-law traveled from Colorado to spend time with her shortly before her passing. Carmelita was scheduled to continue immunotherapy on March 18, 2026, but her doctor determined that her body had become too weak for further treatment.

As her condition continued to decline, Carmelita was transitioned to inpatient hospice care at Moffitt Magnolia on March 22, 2026, where she was kept comfortable and surrounded by compassionate care. She passed away peacefully the following evening, March 23, 2026, at 5:12 p.m., at the age of 61.

Though cancer became a difficult final chapter of her life, it did not define her. Her family will remember the woman she remained through it all: strong-willed, caring, elegant, spirited, and deeply devoted to the people she loved.

Most of all, she will be remembered simply as Carmelita - Bebet, Baby, Lita, Carms, Carmie - a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, granddaughter, aunt, colleague, and friend.

May she rest eternally in the loving arms of God, reunited with those who went before her, and forever remain in the hearts of those who loved her.

She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and never forgotten.