John Elmo Cardone, Sr.

Mr. John Elmo Cardone, Sr., 83, of Lake Charles, born to eternal life at 3:15 p.m., Thursday, June 30, 2011. He passed peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife, four children and family.

Mr. Cardone was born on December 15, 1927, in Madisonville, Louisiana. He graduated from St. Paul Catholic High School in Covington, Louisiana. He attained his Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He married Madge Niel of Lake Charles on April 23, 1950. He was a devoted, loving husband for 61 years.

As a lifelong parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, Mr. Cardone will warmly be remembered as a leader, benefactor, and faithful servant to the Lord. He served as Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and member and chairman of the Parish Council and West Deanery Pastoral Council. He also served as a member and chairman of the building committees for Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church and School, the Msgr. Irving A. DeBlanc Family Life Center, Aquatic Center, Villa Maria Retirement Home and St. Charles Retreat Center. He was a trustee for OLQH and served on the Board of Directors for St. Louis High School for seven years. In 1983, OLQH recognized him with the Unique Service Award and in 1987 the Devoted Service Award. In 1989, the Diocese of Lake Charles honored him with the Family of the Year Award. Mr. Cardone served on the Bishop's Task Force on long range planning for Diocesan Catholic Schools. He was an active member of the Serra Club of Lake Charles and Msgr. Cramer's Assembly Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. Two of his greatest religious honors were when Pope John Paul II appointed him to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in 1989 and when Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church and the Diocese of Lake Charles selected him to receive Holy Communion from the Pope.

Mr. Cardone was Co-Founder, Owner and Vice President of Cesco, a successful proprietary chemical and high technology service business. He managed new branch operations, start-ups, expansions and foreign operations in Italy, Mexico and Kuwait. After selling the company in 1971, he worked as a stockbroker. Prior to that, he was a chemist and process engineer for Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation. Since 1975, he owned and operated Cardone Enterprises, a real estate development and construction company, including rental investments and property management. Mr. Cardone also served as Commissioner and Vice President on the Chennault Industrial Airpark Authority.

He loved spending time with his family. He especially enjoyed family get-togethers, vacations and sharing childhood stories and memories of growing up in Madisonville. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and spending family time at his camp. He always looked forward to church adoration and spiritual retreats at Our Lady of the Oaks at Grand Coteau. He will be remembered for his devotion to his wife, family, church and friends.

Mr. Cardone leaves to honor his memory his loving wife, Madge Niel Cardone, two sons and two daughters; Gwen Cardone Gillis and her husband John of Baton Rouge, John E. Cardone, Jr. and his wife Karen of Lake Charles, Jay Anthony Cardone and his wife Melissa of Lake Charles and Mary Cardone McGinn and her husband Andy of Lafayette; eight grandchildren, Scott Fischer and his wife Janet of Edmond, Oklahoma, John E. Cardone, III, Kristen Cardone George and Kathryn Cardone of Lake Charles, Benjamin Rees Cardone of Lafayette, and Brandt McGinn, Easton McGinn and Drue McGinn of Lafayette; one great grandchild, Marleigh Grace George of Lake Charles; two step-grandchildren, Leigh Ann Gillis Jordan and her husband Landon and Mark Gillis of Baton Rouge and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Joseph Salvadore Cardone and his mother Eunice Stein Cardone; one sister, Rowena Dornier Morris and her husband Ray Morris of Baton Rouge; two brothers, Curtis Cardone, Sr., and his wife Concetta Niel Cardone of Lake Charles and Joseph H. Cardone and his wife Virginia Bach Cardone of Arizona.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 11:00 a.m., Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, Lake Charles. The Most Reverend Bishop Glen John Provost is Presider. Msgr. James M. Gaddy, Pastor, OLQH, is Celebrant. Father T.L. Herlong is Homilist. Interment will be at Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home Tuesday, July 5, 2011, from 4-8 p.m,, with the Rosary at 6 p.m. Visitation will continue on Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00.