Cipriano Antonio "Cip" Cardenas

BROWNSVILLE, TX. – Cipriano Antonio Cardenas, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle peacefully entered into the glory of his eternal life on Saturday, the 7th of September 2024, in Brownsville, Texas, at the age of 77, surrounded by his family. He was a descendent and member of two of Brownsville’s pioneering families having been born at Mercy Hospital in Brownsville on January 11, 1947 to the late Cipriano Cardenas and Felipa Gavito.

On June 15, 1973, after a romantic courtship, he married his paloma querida, Ester, at Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Texas. Their only child, Rebecca Belen, was born three years later, on their anniversary.

Cipriano, affectionately known as “Cip” or “Papo”, attended Saint Joseph Academy from kindergarten through 9th grade, and graduated from Brownsville High School in 1964. Cip retired from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Brownsville as an associate professor in the Modern Languages Department after forty-three years of service. He taught Spanish Medieval and Golden Age Literature and Chicano Literature courses, was department chair of the Modern Language Department for a number of years and was a published poet and short story writer. He also served as Spanish editor and translator for Breakfast Serials, Inc.; in this capacity, he reviewed literary material and translated the content into Spanish for distribution throughout the United States and Latin America. Cip was well respected and admired by his colleagues, and many former students remember him fondly as a gentleman who was fair and kind.

In addition to his work in academe, he served as a secular oblate in the monastic Order of Saint Benedict, affiliated with the Benedictine Monastery of the Good Shepherd, located near Rio Grande City. As an oblate, he served more than ten years as Dean and Lead Translator of religious literature and ministered in the educational formation of Benedictine oblate candidates.

After his retirement from the university, he enjoyed traveling with his family and catching up with his former colleagues, Jim Sullivan, Juan Antonio Gonzalez, and the late Roberto Cortina, over a cup of coffee.

Cip was also a long-time member of the Apostles fraternity and the Sembradores Unidos. He made many lifelong friends in these organizations.

Cip loved listening to music. He particularly enjoyed dancing with Ester anywhere and everywhere. It was not unusual to hear him humming or whistling old Mexican and Spanish songs by the likes of Pedro Infante and Los Churumbeles de Espana.

Preceding Cipriano in death were his parents and youngest brother, Raul.

Survivors include his loving and devoted wife of fifty-one years, Ester; his daughter, Rebecca Wood (Frank); and his only sister, Rosa Cardenas Chahin (Jaime). He is also survived by his grandson, Frank Wood II, in addition to numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, the 11th of September 2024 between the hours of three o’clock in the afternoon and nine o'clock at night, with the recitation of the holy rosary to begin at seven o'clock Wednesday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at nine o'clock in the morning on Thursday, the 12th of September 2024 at the historic Immaculate Conception Cathedral, 1218 E. Jefferson Street, Brownsville. Interment will then follow, via an escorted procession, at Buena Vista Burial Park, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville.

Honored to serve as his pallbearers are Frank Wood, Frank Wood II, Kris Wood, Dr. Jaime Chahin, Ruben Martinez, and Aleksander Galonsky.

Cip will be dearly missed, and his legacy of love, kindness, gentleness, and friendship will live on through the memories shared by those who knew him. May he rest in eternal peace.

In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, the family requests contributions in memory of Cip to Sunshine Haven, Inc., 7105 W. Lakeside Boulevard, Olmito, Texas 78575 (www.sunshinehaveninc.org).

Memories of Cip may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.