1927 – 2025
Rebecca R. Cardenas passed away from a short illness on May 12. She was 97.
Rebecca was born in Mexico City, Mexico, on July 15, 1927. Her parents were Mr. Ramon Rodriguez and Mrs. Adela Garduno Rodriguez. She was the last of seven brothers and sisters. She grew up in the port city of Acapulco.
At age 14, before the start of the World War II, Rebecca moved with an aunt to Ciudad Juarez to study English on a student visa. In this city she met Rodolfo V. Cardenas, who had returned from serving in the US Navy. They married on June 28, 1946, and were married for 53 years.
God graced the couple with four daughters and three sons. Rodolfo and Rebecca, however, had to endure the heartbreak of losing a son, Armando, on February 7, 1985. They never seemed to recover from that awful loss.
From an early age, Rebecca had God in her life. When she was in Ciudad Juarez, she and her aunt would attend La Paz de Cristo (The Peace of Christ) church. After she and Brother Rodolfo were married, they would visit other apostolic congregations.
By accident, as my parents were searching in Cd. Juarez for some nephews, they came across the Iglesia de Dios 7o Dia Central (Church of God (Seventh Day) in Juarez and later started attending. In 1962, they renewed their vows in the church in Mexico City.
Between 1960 and 1968, the Brother and Sister Carenas started evangelizing in El Paso while attending church in Juarez, Mexico. In 1968, they and other members (who now rest in the Lord) started the church work in Ysleta, Texas. They raised funds by selling all sorts of meals to help pay for the cost of the first building in Ysleta.
When the church outgrew that building, they had to buy a building in a new location in 1972 in the central side of El Paso. There Sister Cardenas continued her service to the Lord by raising funds. Once again, the church outgrew that location and moved to its current location in December 1996.
Sister Cardenas always demonstrated what being a child of God entailed. Due to her various illnesses in her later years, she could not serve God physically but serve through her tithes, offerings, and donations. To serve others, for example, — a neighbor, friend, stranger, or relative — was the greatest act of love she inspired. She was known as “Grandma” by many who knew her.
Sister Cardenas was preceded in death by her husband, Rodolfo; her son, Armando; daughter-in-law, Fabiola Loya Cardenas; great-granddaughter, Victoria Renee; and great-grandson, Ernest. She is survived by daughters Mary Lou Molinar (Manny), Rachel, Esther Summerford, and Rebecca (Becky) Atilano (Joe). She is also survived by sons David, Samuel (Liza Alvarado), and stepson Enrique.
Also left to cherish her memory are 17 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, and 26 great-great-grandchildren. Included as well are many friends, church members, maternal nieces and nephews, and others.
Please also see a tribute to the Cardenases, below.
The Cardenases
A short biography by G. Salcido
Rodolfo Cardenas accepted the Lord and was baptized by Minister Trinidad Padilla from California. Rodolfo embraced the gospel in the early sixties and endured in the faith until his death.
His wife, Rebecca, always remained by his side. They would travel to Juarez, Mexico, every Sabbath to hear the Word from a Korean minister, Kim Peck, sent from Mexico City to start a church there.
As years passed, the Cardenases opened their home once a week to study the Bible. A member of our church, Mike Almanza, was instrumental finding a worship place, which later became the El Paso Central Church
The initial group of believers first met in the Salas residence in a Native American town named Ysleta, Texas. From that location they transferred to the Central Church.
Sister Cardenas and her husband were eager to meet the needs of the growing group, giving space to important pastors such as Arnulfo Hernandez, Lazaro Gutierrez, Manny Molinnar, and Manuel Zurita.
Rebecca was always active with the ladies department, in the kitchen, and with other activities, but always supporting the church without hesitation. Today the six active churches in El Paso, Texas, should thank the Lord for the pioneers of faith who are still impacting the El Paso area.