Cresencio "Chris" Cardona

"By a Carpenter mankind was made, and only by that Carpenter can mankind be remade." - Desiderius Erasmus
Cresencio "Chris" Leal Cardona passed away July 26, 2023, at the age of 77.
Chris was born November 24, 1945, to Tereso Delgado and Isabel Leal Cardona. Growing up in Robstown, Texas he was an innovator and courageous, even as a young child. His brother Sam remembers him making a homemade rifle from a radio antenna to kill a "scary creature" (likely a wild turkey) that appeared to be half their size when he was about ten years old. When he was a teenager, he and his family were staying at a ranch house in Sweetwater. It was snowing one Thanksgiving, and the family did not have a turkey. Chris went out and killed a rabbit so his family could enjoy a good Thanksgiving dinner. He enlisted in the Navy on September 4, 1964 and served in Vietnam through August 30, 1968. He was a barber. He was proud of the Vietnam Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Vietnam Service Medals he received for his service.
A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Chris was married to Linda Cardona. They met at "The Carousel Lounge," when he asked her to dance. The rest is history. He was so happy to become a father and later a grandfather. Over the years, he made wonderful memories at Cardona Family Easters and softball games at "La Loma" at West Guth Park, and Christmases in Robstown at his parents' house. He always loved and respected his parents. There were also several notable family trips including driving to Virginia via Kentucky to visit his daughter Carla, family trips to the Astrodome and Astroworld in Houston, and a bowling trip with his wife Linda to Acapulco. A resourceful man, he passed that on to his children and family, along with the importance of hard work, reusability, and innovation. A graduate of the "school of hard knocks," he was an intelligent and ingenious man.
Chris was talented carpenter and started his own construction company - Cardona Construction. He learned the trade from his uncles, Ruben and Librado Leal, which he then passed down to his brothers when they would help him on his jobs. His wife remembers how he had to take their daughter, Carla, to the construction site when she was just three years old. He was roofing, and it was cold, so she was wearing a coat. Chris nailed her coat to the roof so she was safe and he could finish his work. Even when he was not working, he enjoyed collecting things and fixing them, tinkering, and woodworking. He was creative and liked home construction. He also enjoyed growing plants, fishing, hunting, and playing on his men's softball league. He loved his 1964 lime metallic green Chevelle. One of his proudest moments was capturing the deer that didn't get away. He was deep in the woods in his deer blind when it happened. He carried the deer around his neck all the way back to his truck. He came in early the next morning and couldn't wait to tell his wife about his game triumph. After a few hours sleeping, she noticed a swarm of "garapatas" (deer ticks) swarming the floor. She sent him straight to the shower. The 12-point deer is mounted over the fireplace, and he never failed to tell that story to whomever would listen.
A funny man, Chris will be remembered for his sense of humor and his ability to make others laugh, even in serious situations. He had the best smile and smiling eyes. His family will remember him saying, "Pio pio pio" as the punchline of a joke which would make the whole room laugh. His son still recalls him saying "You got it Toyota!" (from the popular commercial) as words of encouragement. He enjoyed a cold beer or hot tea, eating fruit, tamales, empanadas, avocados, and seafood, and loved hot sauce and black pepper. Chris enjoyed a variety of music, from mariachi and the Beatles, to Carlos Santana, Cat Stevens, and Don McLean's "American Pie." With his good sense of humor, he loved watching Steve Harvey's shows and Clint Eastwood movies, and always rooted for the Dallas Cowboys.
Chris leaves behind his wife Linda Cardona; his daughter Carla Cardona Sidhu and her husband Manny Sidhu; his son Christopher Paul Cardona and his wife Criselda Martinez Cardona; his grandchildren Arya Isabella Kaur Sidhu (age 11), Iyla Francisca Kaur Sidhu (age 10), Ziya Devina Kaur Sidhu (age 7), Mikal Xavier Pizeno (age 21), Caiden Xavier Cardona (age 9), and Zoë Belle Cardona (age 6); and his siblings Aida Garza, Adolfo Cardona, Samuel Cardona, Hector Cardona, Ricardo Cardona, Leticia Cardona, Sylvia McGee, Delma Cardona, and Rogelio Cardona. He is reunited with his parents Tereso and Isabel Cardona, and with his brother Jaime Cardona. His family would like to thank the Veterans Administration for Chris' healthcare and benefits.
A visitation will be held from 5-8 PM with a Rosary beginning at 6:30 PM on Monday, August 14, 2023, at Maxwell P. Dunne Funeral Service - Yorktown Blvd. The following day Tuesday, August 15, 2023, Final Military Honors and Committal Service will be held at 10:00 AM at Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery.
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