Jose "Joe" Nicolas Cadena

Viewing and visitation for Mr. Jose Cadena, 80 of Lubbock will begin Friday, June 21, 2024, 1:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. with a rosary beginning at 6:00 pm the same evening by Mr. Dick McCann. Funeral Mass will begin 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 22, 2024, at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church with Father Greg Dunn officiating. Burial will follow at the City of Lubbock Cemetery under the direction of Calvillo Funeral Home & Chapel. 

After a job well done, Jose peacefully departed this worldly existence on June 14, 2024. He was born June 8, 1944, to Reyes Cadena and Marianita Alanis Cadena, from Mercedes, TX. 

He is preceded in death by his son Joe Ray, his parents, and his brother Jorge Cadena. Jose leaves—to mourn their loss and celebrate his life—his faithful wife of 57 years, Elida Salas Cadena, whose life with Joe occurred in their home in Lubbock; his son, Manuel Cadena (Cynthia), of Mt Gilead, NC; his brother, Roberto Cadena, of Mercedes, TX; and his sister, Teresita Cadena (Jose Marcelo Garza), of Weslaco, TX. Also missing him are his true brothers in love, Alejandro “Hando” Gonzalez, Jesus “Jesse” Munoz, Pedro “Pete” Martinez, Estacio “Tacho” Rios all of Lubbock, TX, Terso Guzman (Josie) of Lorenzo, Texas and Merced “Marzo” Garcia from Matador, Texas; Six step-grandchildren. In 1959, at 15 years of age, Joe left the security of the family farm and home in Mercedes, Texas, for Lubbock, Texas. 

He found work there that ensured that he could help with the support of his parents and siblings. Over the years, he worked mainly as a farm worker, which included picking cotton, and as a welder. To make sure he was able to fully support his family and friends, he took jobs with Consolidated Pipe & Tube, Stauffer Chemical, and Clark Equipment. After retirement, Joe enjoyed working for Bill and Christine Keeney, Mrs. Betty Miller, and their families, as well as going to garage sales and visiting his family and numerous friends. 

Family was Joe’s priority, and he showed it in an admirable fashion, namely, by ensuring that members of his immediate family suffered as few hardships in life as possible. That type of love, however, was also his gift to everyone who crossed his path. The nature of his character in life was to treat everyone he met with respect and courtesy, and his real wealth, therefore, derived mostly from the very love and support he himself offered without measure. His life was enriched, as a result, with an abundance of genuine friendships and deep love, blessings, his family is sure, that Joe would have wished for everyone. 

REMEMBER him and CELEBRATE his life.