Otilia E Cardona Obituary (1921 - 2022)

OTILIA "TILLIE'' CARDONA Otilia ''Tillie'' Cardona of El Centro was 101 years old when she passed away on October 31, 2022. She was born in Tucson, Arizona on August 13, 1921 to Enrique and Antonia Espinoza. Tillie grew up in Coolidge and Casa Grande, AZ with her 5 sisters with whom she had a close and loving relationship. As a young woman of 18 years old, she worked at various jobs including civilian work at Camp Florence which housed German and Italian prisoners of World War II. Her position was to help launder and iron the clothes for the prisoners and soldiers. She married Antonio Flores Cardona on May 2, 1947. Together they raised 5 children going from Coolidge, Arizona to Lemoore and Coalinga, California and settled in El Centro in 1957. She enjoyed going to the casino and being with family, friends and having her cup of coffee. She is preceded in death by her husband Antonio, son Henry, and grandson B.J. Betancourt. She is survived by her youngest sister Celia Jacobo, two sons Patrick and Tony (Grace) Cardona and daughters Barbara Cardona, (Rick Meza) and Rebecca (Benny Betancourt). She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. Viewing will be from 8-10 am on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at Frye Chapel & Mortuary, 338 Aten Rd in Imperial, CA with Mass to follow at 10:30 am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in El Centro, CA with burial at Evergreen Cemetery, El Centro.