Maria A. Cardona, 79, Selfless and Caring Person

Maria was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico on September 20th, 1938. Maria came to Lorain from Brooklyn, New York in April of 1975.

Maria worked for the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services where she was a bilingual interviewer for 22 years and worked closely with the Hispanic/Latino community in finding employment. Maria was also active in the community. Maria was a Civil Service Commissioner for the City of Lorain, board member of El Centro in South Lorain, headed a folkloric Puerto Rican cultural dance group (Colibri) which performed in Ohio and surrounding states. As part of the dance groups activities Maria also hosted a snow cone stand at the Lorain International Festival and Bizarre for 32 years, finally retiring in 2012.

Maria started dancing for local television programs in San Juan, Puerto Rico and had the honor of working with such talents as Walter Mercado and Bobby Capo. She shared her dancing knowledge and talent with her dance troupe for many years. Maria was a selfless and very caring person who fought to assist the poverty stricken and jobless. She was a true asset to the Hispanic/Latino community and to the city of Lorain.

Beloved mother of Alberto Calo (wife Wanda L. Calo), Daniel L. Calo (wife Cristina Castellanos Calo) and Zoraida E. Locko. She is survived by her grandsons Christian A. Calo, Benicio J. Calo, Marco Calo, Jonathan Locko, Sebastian Calo. Her sisters Luz Cancel and Blanca Rivera.

Maria was preceded in death by her mother Celina Mojica (1938), her father Regino Rivera (1978), her daughter Zoraida L. Locko (2009).

Maria’s family will receive friends on Thursday, May 10 from 4 to 8 PM at Richard J. Reidy Funeral Home, 1783 East 31, Street, South Lorain and on Friday at 8:30 until 9:30 AM Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Avenue, Lorain. Rev. Father William A, Thaden, Pastor will officiate. Followed by burial at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Avon.

Donations can be made to the Maria A. Cardona Memorial Fund that will be hosted by The Hispanic Fund to Cash App user: $Albertocalo https://cash.me/login.