Beloved Grandmother Leaves Behind Legacy Of Love

BERGENFIELD, NJ — Carmen Cardenas nee Linbania, lovingly called "Mamita" by her family, died at age 92 on Friday, March 9 at CareOne Wellington in Hackensack.

Carmen was born on Jan. 14, 1926 in Lima, Peru to Ceser and Andrea Diez.

Carmen's family recently celebrated her birthday and her 75th wedding anniversary with her husband Nestor Cardenas a few weeks ago. The family also joined together on Sunday, March 4 to celebrate Nestor's "Papito" 104th birthday.

The couple met in their home country of Peru in a town called Choscia. They both attended school together and married on Jan. 17, 1943.

The couple worked very hard to help give their family a new start and eventually moved to America in the 1970s. They settled in a home in Brooklyn, New York where their children grew up.

They eventually moved over to Bergenfield where they would host family gatherings and a huge Christmas Eve celebration yearly.

They moved into the nursing home in Hackensack a few years ago where the couple both shared a room together.

Along with Nestor, Carmen is survived by her six children: Graciela Cespedes and her husband Lucho of Bloomfield, Marisa Cardenas of Bridgewater, Liliana Tarrazi of Bridgewater, Luis Cardenas and his wife Libia of Hasbrouck Heights, Silvia Cardenas and her husband Tim of Connecticut and Eduardo Cardenas and his wife Donna of Tampa, Florida.

She is also survived by her 21 grandchildren: Tatiana Ziegler and husband Jay, Jessica Siciliano, Sandro Cespedes, Luis Miguel Cespedes, Yury Cespedes and wife Tracey, Andrea Vako-Graves and husband Charles, Christina Ficarra and husband Cole, Howard Reckhow and fiance Danielle, Alexis Hutchings and husband Jason, Victor Tarrazi and wife Sarah, Carlos Cardenas, Johnny Cardenas, Veronica Cardenas, Natalie Cardenas, William Crowley, Jeremiah Crowley, Elizabeth Crowley, Caroline Crowley, Jennifer Cardenas, Nicole Cardenas and Christopher Cardenas. And also many more great-grandchildren.

Viewing will held be on Thursday from 4 to 9 p.m. at Leber Funeral Home, 2000 Kennedy Blvd., Union City.
The funeral will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at Leber Funeral Home.

The burial will follow the funeral service at Maple Grove Park Cemetery Association, 535 Hudson St., Hackensack.

(Image via family)