Lidia Cardoza

Lidia was born on March 6th, 1964 to Delfina Maria Montes Murillo & Jose Ernesto Rodriguez in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. In 1974 the family moved to Los Angeles, CA where they lived for a few years until their move to Stockton, CA in 1977. While living in Stockton Lidia attended John Marshall Junior High and John Edison High School.

That same year, Lidia met the love of her life and future husband, Rafael Cardoza at The Turnpike Apartments where both of their families resided. On April 25th, 1981 they were married and moved to Placerville, CA. Together they went on to raise three children, Erica (1982), Jennifer Maria (1987), and Rafael Edgar (1989). Lidia spent the first ten years of her marriage as a housewife caring for her family.

In 1991, Lidia’s creative nature led her to the Cosmetology Program at Ponderosa High School in Shingle Springs, CA. She received her Cosmetology License in 1993 and worked as a licensed Cosmetologist for several years before opening her own beauty salon in Diamond Springs, CA where she worked alongside her daughter, Jennifer.

In 2015, Lidia retired and spent her time visiting family and friends alongside her husband Rafael, spoiling her grandchildren, cooking the most delicious meals for her family, and tending to her “babies” in her garden.

In 2018, Lidia was diagnosed with liver disease. Along with the assistance of her family, she battled her disease as a true warrior and patiently waited for her chance at a healthier life via a liver transplant. In 2021 she lived one of her greatest joys when her long-awaited first granddaughter was born. Her battle had many ups and downs, in late January (2023) her health took a drastic turn and by the end of the month, she had undergone her liver transplant. After fighting incredibly hard for a few weeks she was released from the hospital and able to go home. At home, she was surrounded by the love and comfort of her close family and friends and was healing well. Throughout all of this, she remained strong, vibrant, and caring and never stopped worrying about those around her. Tragically, a short nine days later she began having complications that she was not able to recover from.

Lidia is survived and missed by her mother Delfina; her husband Rafael; her children Erica, Jennifer, and Rafael Jr.; her grandchildren Angel, Sebastian, Julian, Mason, and Olivia; her brothers and sisters Bertha (Aurelio), Joe, Juan Carlos, Silvia, Carmela, Isabel, Rosie (Joseph), Jose Ernesto, Raul, Oscar, Sergio, Lupe, Edilberto, Issac, Cynthia, Maria Isabel, Maribel, and her many nieces, nephews, and beloved relatives and friends.

Lidia is preceded in death by her father Jose Ernesto, dad Fernando, brother Manuel, and grandson Rafael Aiden.

Lidia will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her giving nature, her keen sense of humor, and mostly for her love, selflessness, and protectiveness over her family.

Services for Lidia are as follows: A visitation with rosary on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Chapel of the Pines located at 2855 Cold Springs Road, Placerville, CA. A funeral mass on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Saint Patricks Catholic Church located at 3109 Sacramento Street, Placerville, CA followed by a reception at Gurnell Hall (St. Patrick’s Church).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.chapelofthepinesfunerals.com for the Cardoza family.