Benito R. "Bene" Cardona Sr.

April 3, 1937 - January 12, 2022

Dateline: Corpus Christi, Texas Benito "Bene" R. Cardona was born to Teodoro Cardona and Manuela Ramirez on April 3, 1937 in South Texas. He lived most of his life in Alice, Texas and Rockford, Illinois. Bene met Dominga in 1961. They were later married on July 15, 1961 and began their lives as one. As their life began together, their family began to grow and the Lord blessed them with seven children. From there, their family grew with many more blessings. He loved to listen to music (especially Corridos and Rancheras). Two of his favorite songs were "La Rafaelita" by Los Fantasmas del Valle and "El Hijo Desobediente" by Antonio Aguilar. He enjoyed watching TV (mostly westerns), fishing (although he never ate it), playing poker, dice, and dominoes. Going on family vacations with him was always an adventure in itself! Oh, and let us not forget how he loved to tell stories. Like when he ran the streets with Al Capone, played baseball with Babe Ruth, and fought beside Pancho Villa. He was forever trying to tell jokes but could never finish because he couldn't stop himself from laughing and in the process of making everyone else laugh. He would always tell us that he was known as "La Sota de Copas" because he was the king of playing cards, never losing. Bene is preceded in death by his parents: Teodoro Cardona and Manuela Ramirez; daughter: Maria Guadalupe Rodriguez; brother and sister-in-law: Gregoria and Anna Cardona; sister and brother-in-law: Virginia and Adolfo Sanchez; son-in-law: Salvador Gasca; grandson-in-law: Javier Rodriguez. Bene is survived by his wife: Dominga Cardona; sons: Benito Cardona Jr. and Teodoro J. Cardona; daughters: Maria (Amado) Escobedo, Santos Cardona, Francisca Cardona, and Dominga Cardona; grandchildren: Ruby (Travon) Johnson, Sylvia (Hector) Escobedo, Belen (Jordan) Johnson, Armando (Trinity) Martinez, Miguel Rodriguez, Amado Escobedo Jr., Marcos Rodriguez, Alex (Vanessa) Rodriguez; great-grandchildren: Aleah Johnson, Cristian Martinez Cardona, Izaak Johnson, Estelesie Martinez Cardona, Joseph Johnson, Jason Martinez Cardona, Oliva Johnson, Jezzarai Rodriguez, Daniel Rodriguez, Caleb Martinez, Crystella Martinez, Josiah Johnson, and Amiah Escobedo; brother: Ramon (Maria) Cardona and numerous nephews and nieces. A visitation will be held Monday, January 17, 2022 from 9 am to 1 pm with a funeral service to begin at 1 pm in the Roberson Funeral Home Chapel. A burial is to follow in the Roberson-Collins Memorial Cemetery. Services entrusted to Roberson Funeral Home Alice.