Diana B. Cardenas

Diana B. Cardenas, age 79, of Rockford, Illinois, peacefully passed away surrounded by family on Thursday evening, May 28, 2026. She was born on September 8, 1946, in San Antonio, Texas, to Isidoro and Refugia (Sanchez) Bishop, where she was raised. After graduating high school and becoming a Medical Transcriptionist, she moved to Wisconsin and eventually to Rockford, Illinois. She married the love of her life, Juan Cardenas, on July 5, 1975. She was a member of St. Edward's Catholic Church in Rockford.

Diana enjoyed watching cooking shows and was well known for her spaghetti. She liked roosters and had a collection of rooster-themed items. For many years, the Cardenas family would drive to Mexico, and on their way they would stop in Texas to visit her sister and her children. Some of her favorite memories were made on those trips to Mexico, especially the relaxing time spent there. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Juan Cardenas; children, Adriana Cardenas, Daniel and Laura "Crystal" Cardenas, and Jose Cardenas; grandchildren, Carmen Cardenas, Juan Cardenas, Saya Cardenas, Yayra Cardenas, Erik Cardenas, Adrian Cardenas, Khloe Cardenas, and Daniel Cardenas; great-grandson, Alessio Cardenas; cousin, Josephine Ibinizski; nieces, Elisa Tiburcia Aguirre and Sonia Raquel Aguirre; and great-nieces and nephews, Sierra Aguirre, Diego Aguirre, and Trent Aguirre.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Roque and Tiburcia Sanchez; parents, Isidoro and Refugia Bishop; aunts, Rosa Mendez and Hortencia "Nena" Farley; sister, Susan Aguirre; and granddaughter, Andrea Cardenas.

Visitation for Diana will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd., Machesney Park, IL 61115. Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, June 3, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Edward's Catholic Church, 3004 11th St., Rockford, IL 61109. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.