Patricia L. Cardenas

Patricia Lorain Cardenas

July 2, 1939 – July 26, 2016

Patricia Cardenas (nee Hicks) has joined her beloved husband, Hugh, in heaven. The only child of Patrick and Dorothy Hicks, she grew up in Hopkins, Minnesota.

Petite Patty lit up any room she entered from an early age. Her father’s military service took them to California where she was discovered and appeared in the film Yolanda and the Thief with Fred Astaire, Lucille Bremer and Frank Morgan in 1945. The family returned to Hopkins and the freckle-faced eight year old became a weekly fixture on the Toby Prin Show – a Twin Cities televised talent program – where she sang and helped host alongside Mr. Prin. She then had her own show while serving as national co-chairman of the Teens Against Polio Drive with actor, Sal Mineo. She travelled the country working and meeting with many well-known individuals including Dr. Jonus Salk, Vic Damone, Judy Holiday and Rosalind Russell. She went on to attend Northwestern University, later transferring to the University of Chicago so she could take a staff position in Chicago with the March of Dimes. Deciding she preferred performing to public relations work, she returned to the Twin Cities where she encountered the love of her life, Hugh Cardenas.

Meeting when they worked together at radio station KRSI in 1960, Patty and Hugh married on October 20, 1962. They were inseparable from the beginning and brought their spark and entrepreneurial talents to a series of creative endeavors over the next forty years. Patty sang in one of Hugh’s “combos” and worked as management and bookers for several local entertainers and musicians. They recorded an LP titled A Night at the Drake during one of their performances in the Rathskeller Lounge at the once quite snazzy Hotel Francis Drake in Minneapolis.

Patty had two children, Christiana Lorain (1966) and Cory Hugh (1969). She continued to work with Hugh in the music business and later when they transitioned to Concepts in Communication – an advertising and promotional agency.

Mom, Mamacita, Nana will be remembered for her generosity, ability to entertain and her understanding of the importance of encouraging and building up children. She was a hands-on parent and grandparent. A lover of the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers. Politically passionate, she worked on behalf of the Republican Party until her last days. She will be dearly missed by those she leaves behind. She is survived by her children, daughter Christi Cardenas-Roen and son Cory Cardenas and their spouses, Todd Roen and Tara Cardenas. Grandchildren Max and Sam Roen, Raquel, Jordan and Jesse Cardenas.

The family invites all who wish to share memories, stories and laughter to gather Saturday, July 30th at O’Connell Funeral Home (520 Eleventh Street – Hudson). The family will greet all starting at 1:00 with a service commencing at 2:00 pm. Private interment will be at Fort Snelling at a later date. Memorials to the family are appreciated.