Elida Mendez Cardenas

Elida Mendez Cardenas, 86, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away peacefully on September 11th, 2024. Elida was born on December 20th, 1937, in Sanderson, Texas to Dario and Herlinda Cardenas. Her father made sure to tell his daughter that she could achieve anything she wanted in life, and she did just that. She enrolled at Texas Women’s University after graduating high school in 1957, the first of her siblings to attend a university. She went on to work as a clerk-typist at Kelly Air Force Base, until she was offered a job with the US Information Agency in Washington D.C., a geographical and career move she was most proud of, and she remained there for 7 years. She was enthusiastic and vocal about encouraging women to be mobile and to never be afraid to move out of familiar surroundings to advance their career. In 1974, Elida was offered a job with the Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Civil Rights in Kansas City, and without ever having visited the area, she left Washington and settled into an apartment in Columbus Park, where she would welcome her only child (and absolute pride and joy), Natividad into the world just three years later in 1977. She served as an Equal Opportunity Specialist as well as Hispanic Employment Program Manager for the FAA until her retirement in 1994. Elida was an advocate for the Hispanic and Latino community and a champion of women in the workplace. She held distinguished roles within multiple civil rights organizations such as the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Federally Employed Women, Inc., and MANA De Kansas City, just to name a few, during her career and well into her retirement. She resided in South Kansas City at the time of her passing and was a devoted parishioner of Christ the King Catholic Church. Her many favorites included Red Lobster, sweet tea, Fiesta Week in Kansas City, and visiting her beloved San Antonio family, yet spoiling her only grandchild topped that list. She was stubborn and fierce, soft and sensitive, and she is missed immensely. Elida is survived by her son, Natividad and wife, Courtney of Kansas City, Missouri, one granddaughter, namesake, Elida: one sister, Guadalupe Rodriguez of San Antonio, Texas, and many cherished nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dario and Herlinda Cardenas, and siblings, Natividad, Dario, Cruz, Tonia, and Ramon. A funeral mass will be held on December 13th at St. James Catholic Church in Sanderson, Texas. The family suggests memorial contributions to Guadalupe Centers, Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center Cabot Campus, and/or Irene H. Ruiz Branch of the Kansas City Public Library in honor of Elida’s lifelong dedication to her community.