Renato E. Cardenas

Mr. Renato E. Cardenas, 86, entered into his eternal rest on April 21, 2017. He is preceded in death by his parents Renato F. Cardenas and Petra Villarreal Cardenas. He was a long time resident of Brownsville and an active community member. He attended Brownsville public schools and served in the United States Air Force during the Korean conflict where he earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. After the war, he graduated from Texas Southmost College and attended Pan American University in Edinburg, Texas.
In 1971, he opened Cardenas Motor Co., now known as Cardenas Motors, Inc. in Brownsville. He later acquired the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Harlingen, TX and the Ford dealership in Raymondville, TX.
Renato began developing subdivisions in Brownsville in 1969. He later founded Cardenas Development Co., Inc.
Renato served as a Brownsville City Commissioner from 1975-1982. He was co-founder and former chairman of Valley Community Hospital, Brownsville (a non-profit hospital) from 1975 to 1985 which was later known as Valley Regional Medical Center. He was co-founder and former president of the Brownsville Foundation for Health and Education. He was a founding board member of Sunrise Bank which later merged with First Valley Bank. Renato served as: board member of Southern Texas Title Company, the Lower Rio Grande Valley Certified Development Company, Boys Club of Brownsville, President Rio Grande Valley Buick Dealers Association, President Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council and
Vice-President of National Minority Automobile Dealers Association.
Renato was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church for 50 years.
Renato is survived by his wife of 61 years, Mary Rose Cardenas and his five children: Reba Cardenas (Harry) McNair, Elsa Cardenas (Andy) Hagan, Rene (Angela) Cardenas, Rick (Margie) Cardenas, Eldarose Cardenas (Efren Guedea), 8 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and other extended family members.
Renato was a loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He was deeply loved and admired for his faith, kindness, generosity and great sense of humor. Examples of his generosity include donating the land for the Driscoll Children's Hospital Speciality Clinic and the Olmito Elementary School in the Villa Los Pinos subdivision in Brownsville and the land for the entrance to the Harlingen (TX) Thicket Park.
The family would like to thank Dr. Juan Martinez, Dr. Roberto Robles, Dr. Balesh Sharma, Dr. Guillermo Garcia Manero, Dr. Guillermo Bravo and their team members for their friendship and special care.
Services will be held at Saint Mary's Catholic Church, 1914 Barnard Rd. Brownsville, TX . A rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 23, 2017 with visitation from 8:00-9:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be held at the church at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 24, 2017. Committal services will follow at Buena Vista Burial Park. Military honors will be rendered at the graveside by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Funeral Honor Guard.
Harry McNair, Andrew Hagan, Efren Guedea, James Hagan, Jose Luis Barba and Oscar Garcia will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Raymond Longoria, Justo Barrientes, Cleve Breedlove, Robert Duffey, Neil Haman, Jaime Parra, Luis Torres, Narciso Escareno and Stephen Alvarez.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Renato E. Cardenas Scholarship Fund c/o UTRGV Division of Institutional Advancement, Lucena House, 1 West University Blvd., Brownsville, Texas 78520 www.utrgv.edu.

Service

Holy Rosary

St. Mary's Catholic Church
1914 Barnard Road
Brownsville, TX  78520
Sunday, April 23, 2017
7:00 p.m.

Visitation

St. Mary's Catholic Church
1914 Barnard Road
Brownsville, TX  78520
Sunday, April 23, 2017
8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass

St. Mary's Catholic Church
1914 Barnard Road
Brownsville, TX  78520
Monday, April 24, 2017
10:00 a.m.

Cemetery

Buena Vista Burial Park
5 McDavitt Blvd.
Brownsville, TX  78521