Elia Cardenas

On Wednesday, July 15th, 2020, Elia Cardenas, 71, was called home by our most Holy Father in Heaven. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, daughter and beautiful friend. Elia was born on June 20th, 1949 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico to Antonio and Jacinta Orozco de Garcia. She was loved by all her family and friends for her faithful charity and her selfless attitude towards life. She was the oldest of five children and she steered the way for her siblings to follow both in life and in education. She always showed us to have strength in life despite all the challenges you might face.

After graduating from San Augustine High School in Laredo, Texas she moved to Chicago, Illinois to work as an accountant for  A.L. Randall Company.  Elia was an industrious woman, efficient, energetic, and diligent with her work.   On November 6th, 1971, she married the love of her life, Pedro Cardenas in Chicago, Illinois. They raised 3 beautiful daughters, Angelica Dolores, Gladys Judith, and Alejandra Bianca. Soon after giving birth to their youngest daughter, Alejandra, they decided to move to Laredo, Texas to be closer to family. She was devoted to her family, loyal to her friends, and she was grounded in her faith towards God.

Elia’s passion was serving God, her family and her friends. People who knew her, know she was a devoted Catholic, and a disciple of God. Her mission was to help guide others towards the Catholic faith. She lovingly devoted herself to Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Virgen de San Juan. Her spirituality was inflamed with passion by offering her assistance in preparing for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in December and assisting the ACTS Women in their retreats, fundraisers, and Church Jamaica. Everyone who knew Elia knew she was an extraordinary woman. She left us too soon, but she knew God needed an angel and she accepted our Lord’s calling. Elia clearly modeled what it means to be a good Catholic. We can honor her by following her example and serving God by serving others as well as she did.

We will remember the unforgettable experiences and cherish the memories she made with each one of us. Her laugh, her jokes, and her conversations will remain with us in our memories forever. We will remember the lessons she showed us: Love our families really well, let us serve others with as much as we’ve got for as long as we can, Jesus Christ is the hope that we all have for salvation, and God loves you and it’s always a good day for all of us to give Jesus more of our lives. Elia would want us to remember how she was and that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

She was preceded in death by her father, Antonio Garcia, her sisters, Margarita Garcia and Patricia Miranda, and her beloved Aunt Rosa Cruz.

Elia’s memory is carried on by her husband Pedro Cardenas of 49 years of marriage, three daughters Angelica Reyna (Alberto J. Reyna), Gladys Garza (Manuel A. Garza Jr.), and Alejandra Cardenas. She is also survived by her grandchildren Emily Martinez, Robert Martinez III, and Aiden Garza. And her immediate family her mother Jacinta Orozco de Garcia, her siblings Guillermina Garcia de Infante (Victorhugo Infante), Josefina Garza (Jesus Garza), and Antonio Garcia (Guadalupe Garcia) and many nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2020 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Gamez and Sons Funeral Home and Crematorium Services, 1029 Bob Bullock Loop #1, Laredo, TX 78043. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be held Friday, August 21, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. from Gamez and Sons Funeral Home and Crematorium Services to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church for a Holy Mass at 9:00 a.m.

Interment will be held at the family plot in the Calvary Catholic Cemetery.