Obituary of Yoshiko Cardenas

Obituary of Yoshiko (Yoshi) Cardenas.

Yoshiko Cardenas, 88, passed away peacefully, after a brief battle with illness, on September 9, 2023 in Tucson, AZ.

The daughter of Sute and Shosakusan Furukawa, Yoshiko was born in 1935 in Tokyo, Japan. Yoshiko mastered the English language during her years as a young schoolgirl.

She met her future husband Rudolph (Rudy) Cardenas, Sr. during his first tour of duty with the US Air Force in Tokyo, Japan. They married and had three children, sons Rudy, Jr., Roberto and daughter, Mary Ann. Yoshiko and Rudy enjoyed many years with the Air Force in Japan with brief tours in New Mexico, Virgina and Hawaii before Rudy retired from Davis-Monthan AFB choosing to make Tucson, Arizona their new hometown.

Yoshiko worked as the Head Cashier for NCO Clubs in both Yokota AB, Japan and Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ from which she retired.

A playful and energetic person, Yoshiko took up aerobics and traditional Japanese dancing in her golden years. Yoshiko had a passion for fashion which she shared with Rudy, Sr. Yoshiko and Rudy, Sr. enjoyed dining out, especially to celebrate special occasions.

Yoshiko was predeceased by her husband, Rudolph, Sr., her mother Sute, father Shosakusan, sister Emiko, brother Mitsuhiko, niece Kumi Wada and nephew Koichi. She is survived by her children Mary Ann, Roberto and Rudy, Jr. (Anne) and grandchildren Anthony (Katy), Keegan and Mary (Aidan) and her nieces in Japan Toshiko Kobayashi and Yuki Kaiya and many grand nephews and nieces.

Services will be held at Angel Valley Funeral Home, 2545 North Tucson, Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85716 on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 3pm. Visitation will be from 2 to 3pm prior to services.