Lula Louise Tune Cardoza, 97, died Sunday, March 23, 2014.
She was born near West Plains, Missouri on June 16, 1916, and was the third of 10 children born to George Tune and Anna Redburn Tune. When she was 5, the family moved from Missouri to Woodward, Oklahoma. In 1935 because of the Dustbowl the family relocated to California and settled in Ripon after a short stay in Modesto. Later the family moved to Escalon living on River Road, South Sexton and finally settling on a small family dairy farm at the end of Lawrence Avenue.
While waitressing at Dolly’s cafe in Ripon, Louise met the ‘Portagee’ that stole her heart. She married Tony Cardoza on Feb. 5, 1938. They had three children. They made their first home in Salida where Calvin was born and later moved to Van Wyk dairy on Lone Tree Road, Escalon where Jane and George were born. They later purchased the dairy and ranch on Van Allen Road.
In addition to raising a family, she worked alongside her husband on the family dairy, attended his baseball games, attended and hosted card parties, ran a small catering business, and helped out at the Escalon Sportsman’s Club. She was active in Mother’s Club and a 4-H Leader. She was always a very supportive wife, mother, and grandmother.
She liked to travel to visit family and friends, go deer hunting in California and Nevada, clamming at Sunset Beach and Bodega Bay and fishing anywhere Tony wanted to go. She visited Woodward, OK several times to see her uncle Cleve, family and childhood friends, traveling via car, train and flying. She always made time to visit the gravesite of her brother and other family members, and sharing stories of her childhood.
Mrs. Cardoza enjoyed watching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren play sports, especially baseball and softball, as Tony played in the 1940s and 1950s and Louise went to as many games as possible depending on the dairy needs. They also attended softball games when son George was coaching.
She and her sisters would always get together for their birthdays. So Louise could be included on March 1 the sisters brought Annabelle’s birthday party to her while in rehab for a broken shoulder. She enjoyed that so much and commented many times how great of a family she had and how lucky she was to have a great family
As her health declined, her great-grandson Anthony Kennedie took on the role of primary care provider so she could remain at her Manteca home until she passed away.
Survivors include her sisters Mary Nepote, Annabelle Martin, and Irene Butler; sons Calvin (Gail) and George (Joan) Cardoza; seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Tony Cardoza; brothers Jason, Everett, Paul, Norman and George Tune; sister Pauline Davis; half-brother Ruben Tune; daughter Jane Mullin; and grandsons Benardus and Kevin Kennedie.
Services included a viewing at Eaton Family Funeral Chapel in Modesto on Sunday, March 30 and a Family Graveside service at Burwood Cemetery on River Road in Escalon on Monday, March 31, followed by a Memorial Service at United Methodist Church on Jackson Avenue in Escalon.
Remembrances may be sent to Community Hospice, 2105 West March Lane #2, Stockton, CA 95207 or your favorite youth charity.
The Escalon (Calif.) Times
April 2, 2014
