Guapalupe Cardenas

Our beloved Lupe, lovingly known as “Mamo,” was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a woman of deep faith, great warmth, and an extraordinary capacity to love. 

For more than 64 years, Lupe shared a beautiful marriage with her beloved husband, Oscar. Together, they built a life rooted in faith, family, friendship, and love. Lupe cherished her husband and her family above all else. She loved her people fiercely and had a special gift for making those around her feel loved, whether through her radiant smile, her famous salsa, a warm welcome at her door, or a few sweet words of encouragement.

Lupe, 86, was born on March 26, 1940, in Falfurrias, Texas, to Flavio and Dominga Munoz. She grew up in nearby Premont, a small farming and ranching community in South Texas, alongside her sister, Mary, and brothers Flavio, Sylvestre, Humberto, David, and Rico. 

Flavio and Dominga lived a humble country life and raised their children with a strong work ethic and a deep sense of responsibility. Each child had a special chore around the home. For Lupe, that chore was cooking and sewing—two gifts that would become an important part of her life and a beautiful way she expressed her love for others. 

Lupe attended Premont High School, where she studied homemaking and learned not only how to care for a household, but how to make a house into a home. She was also a cheerleader, FFA (Future Farmers of America) sweetheart, and participated in several school plays. Lupe had a fun, outgoing personality and made friends wherever she went. Many of those friendships continued throughout her life. 

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat of the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27 

In 1959, Lupe left Premont for San Antonio, Texas, hoping to build a career and a life of her own. She worked at a local bank and attended Durham Business College, where she met the love of her life, Oscar, through mutual friends. Lupe and Oscar loved attending dances with friends, exploring local parks, and spending weekends surrounded by family and friends. Their friendship blossomed into love, and in 1961 they were married at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in San Antonio, surrounded by the people who loved them. 

Their greatest adventure, however, was the family they built together. Lupe and Oscar welcomed three daughters, Laura, Liza, and Robin, who became the center of their world. Their marriage was grounded in their Catholic faith, and they were intentional about passing that faith on to their children. They sent their daughters to Catholic school, taught them about Jesus, and made prayer an important part of everyday life. 

One of Lupe’s most cherished traditions was teaching her daughters the Guardian Angel prayer, which they recited together each night before bed. Years later, during Lupe’s journey with Alzheimer’s disease, her family discovered something incredibly precious: Lupe had learned the Guardian Angel prayer in Spanish as a little girl. During the final two years of her journey, she began reciting the Spanish prayer with Oscar and her daughters. It was one of the most beautiful reminders that although Alzheimer’s could take away so many of Lupe’s memories, it could not take away the faith that had been planted in her heart as a child. Somehow, through the grace of God, those prayers remained. Even in her final days, the devotion to Jesus and His angels that had shaped her life was still there. 

“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” Psalms 78:4 

Lupe was a devoted stay-at-home mother until her youngest daughter entered kindergarten, when she began her administrative career. She worked at several companies in administrative roles, then found her final position at the San Antonio State School (SASS), where she worked from 1986 through 2003.

Lupe was the welcoming face of the Human Resources department. Sitting at the front desk, she greeted employees and applicants, answered benefits questions, accepted employment applications, and offered everyone the same warm smile. Her coworkers affectionately described her as the “Sunshine at the HR window.” 

And Sunshine she was. 

Lupe retired from the SASS in 2003 and was excited to begin a new chapter of retirement alongside Oscar, who had already retired. The two embraced retirement as they had embraced life—with each other, with their faith, and with the people they loved. 

Above all, Lupe’s greatest joy was having her family “all together.” Whether it was a backyard barbecue, a holiday celebration, a birthday party, or simply time spent around the table, she loved a full house. She was an excellent hostess and took great care to make sure every detail was just right. And every gathering began with corn chips and Lupe’s famous salsa. She blended that salsa with love and plenty of Serrano peppers! Everyone asked Lupe for the recipe, and although she happily shared it, somehow no one else’s salsa ever tasted quite the same. Perhaps the missing ingredient was simply Lupe’s love. She had a remarkable way of putting love into everything she made. 

Lupe was also an accomplished seamstress. She learned to sew from her mother, Dominga, and through her homemaking classes in high school. She made beautiful matching outfits for her young daughters to wear on family vacations, elegant gowns for social club dances, and even Halloween costumes for herself and Oscar to wear at their Bunco gatherings. Her creativity, attention to detail, and love of beauty were woven into everything she did. 

As a young mother, Lupe was deeply involved in her daughters’ lives. She was a room mother, coordinating volunteers and class parties; a PTO mom; and a Girl Scout leader. She loved being around her daughters and their friends and welcomed them into her home with the same warmth she gave to everyone. 

Lupe also had a green thumb and a deep love for God’s creation. She loved gardening, fresh flowers, and beautiful plants. Her yard, which she and Oscar lovingly tended, was often one of the most beautiful on the block. She would prune her plants, care for them, and even talk to them. Lupe believed that the more you talked to your plants, the more they would grow. She called the rain, “God’s water”, and believed it was the very best thing for her garden. Her flowers seemed to agree. They bloomed beautifully under the care of a woman who understood that even the smallest things flourish when they are given love. 

Lupe loved every holiday and delighted in decorating her home, and herself, for every season. But her favorite week of the year was Fiesta Week in San Antonio. Her home would come alive with colorful paper flowers, Fiesta decorations, her beloved collection of Fiesta pins, and beautiful flower crowns. Lupe and Oscar loved attending and volunteering at Fiesta activities, and family members would often come into town to celebrate with them. For Lupe, Fiesta wasn't simply an event. It was a celebration of family, community, color, joy, and life. 

During her Alzheimer’s journey, something beautiful happened. Lupe began to believe that every week was Fiesta Week. She would often ask family and friends if they were going to a Fiesta event downtown that evening. It became a blessing for her family. Even as so many memories faded, Lupe’s heart held on to one of the happiest seasons of her life. In her own way, she was always looking forward to the next Fiesta event or parade. 

“They seldom reflect on the days of their life, because God keeps them occupied with gladness of heart.” Ecclesiastes 5:20 

Above all, Lupe loved her husband, Oscar. It is difficult to tell the story of Lupe’s life without including Oscar because, for more than six decades, their lives were beautifully intertwined. Lupe was a devoted wife who spent her life caring for Oscar and making their home a place of comfort and love. Together, they hosted Bunco gatherings, participated in social clubs, volunteered at their Catholic church, traveled on cruises during retirement, and enjoyed the simple pleasure of being together at home in their living room with a glass of wine. They were partners in every sense of the word. Their love was not simply found in the big moments, but in the thousands of ordinary moments they shared over 64 years, a lifetime of choosing one another, caring for one another, and walking side by side. 

“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19:6 

In 1987, Lupe began one of the greatest joys of her life: becoming a grandmother. From that moment forward, she was lovingly called “Mamo.” Lupe adored her grandchildren and made sure that she and Oscar were present for the moments that mattered. They attended sporting events and school activities, celebrated birthdays, and hosted countless gatherings in their backyard pool. When Lupe’s grandchildren had their own children, she adored her great grandchildren just the same. But Mamo’s love extended far beyond her own grandchildren and great grandchildren. Many family friends lovingly called her Mamo, too. Anyone who came through Lupe’s door was welcomed as family. 

That was one of her greatest gifts: she made people feel a sense of belonging. 

Lupe was also a woman who believed in looking her best. She dressed to the nines, always coordinating her clothes, shoes, purses, and beautiful jewelry. She loved makeup, perfume, purses, and fashion, and she kept up with the latest styles in her clothing and hair. Lupe was always “put together”, whether she was watching television in her living room or heading out to a social club dance. And she would never, ever be caught without her lipstick or without her hair being styled. She faithfully visited her hairdresser each week for her beloved “shampoo and set.” Even during her Alzheimer’s journey, her daughters honored their mother by making sure she always looked and felt beautiful, elegant, and loved. 

That was Lupe.

She believed that beauty mattered, not because of vanity, but because she understood that taking care of yourself and your surroundings was another way of showing love. Lupe’s life was a testament to the beauty of a life faithfully lived. 

She loved deeply. She served generously. She welcomed freely. She prayed faithfully. She celebrated joyfully. She cared for her family fiercely. And she left a little more light wherever she went. 

Her life was filled with the simple, sacred things that matter most: faith, family, friendship, laughter, a beautiful garden, a table surrounded by loved ones, a colorful Fiesta, a little lipstick, and a whole lot of love. 

Lupe was preceded in death by her parents, Flavio and Dominga Munoz; and her beloved brothers, Flavio Jr., Sylvestre, David, Humberto, and Ricardo Munoz. She is survived by her devoted husband of more than 64 years, Oscar; her daughters, Laura Hernandez (Rene), Liza Cardenas, and Robin Eggers (Cliff); and her sister, Mary Galindo. 

She leaves behind her beloved grandchildren: Rene Hernandez II (Lisa), Lauren Garcia (Trent), Alec Hernandez (Lauren), Alyssa Varga (David), and Paige Hasselbring (Callie); and her precious great-grandchildren: Liam Varga, Luke Varga, Maverick Garcia, Jessica Rae Hernandez, Everett Hasselbring, and Oakland Hasselbring. 

Her family finds comfort in knowing that Lupe’s earthly journey has come to an end, but her eternal journey has begun. We imagine her now in the presence of the Lord she loved, reunited with family members who went before her, surrounded by the peace and joy promised to those who place their faith in Him. And perhaps, in heaven, there is already a table being set. There will be family gathered all together. There will be flowers in bloom. There will be music and dancing. And there will surely be a bowl of Lupe’s famous salsa. Most of all, there will be Jesus. And Lupe is finally home. 

“Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23 

Lupe’s life and legacy will be celebrated at her Funeral Mass at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1602 Thousand Oaks Drive, San Antonio, Texas, at 10:30 a.m. A reception celebrating Lupe’s beautiful life will immediately follow the Funeral Mass in the Shalom Room at the church.

 May she rest in the loving arms of Jesus, and may her memory remain forever in the hearts of all who were blessed to know and love her. 

Until we meet again, Mamo.