Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Frank William Cardone was born at the Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles to his parents Anita and William Cardone in 1937. He was raised Catholic with his brother, Sonny. His father was an immigrant who moved to the United States from Italy, while his mother was from Louisiana. Sadly, when he was very young, his parents were killed in car accidents. Frank and Sonny were raised by their loving grandmother Rose. As young kids, his big brother, Sonny, watched out for young Frank. And, Frank talked about his grandmother with gratitude through the decades. He adored his grandmother and had a good childhood. He was always adventurous, interested in cars, and the military. A popular student, he made many friends for life. He attended parochial school and graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in Los Angeles.

After graduation, he served in the United States Army from 1958 to 1962. During his service, he earned recognition and a good conduct medal. A very patriotic man, he also served in the Army Reserves for two years. After finishing his service, Frank met Sandy. Sandy and Frank married and had their only son, Dane. They loved being parents. The couple grew apart and divorced, but they worked together to raise their son. Dane lived with his mother and stepfather, Jim, in Visalia, but Sandy sent many letters to Frank to keep him in the loop. Dane visited his father on holidays such as Easter, Christmas, and one month during the summer break. Sandy and Frank had a very good relationship, they were amicable, which had a positive effect on Dane.

As a father, Frank was great. Every visit for Dane was like a holiday. They went on many fun-filled trips together. They were more like buddies, always having fun. The day after Dane graduated from high school, he moved in with his father in 1983. Since he grew up in a small town, he was excited about the opportunities that came with the big city. Dane lived with Frank for eight years until he met Karen... Karen and Dane have been together for 24 years. Frank loved spending time with his grandchildren Sarah and Samantha. Frank was happy to fix dinner for the kids and the kids would beg to spend time with Frank. He was a good listener, loved children, was very affectionate and gave great hugs. He was very involved and liked taking the kids out to dinner at Kinda Lahaina for seafood in Seal Beach. He also cooked for the girls, took them shopping for jewelry and outfits. He even took Karen's sister's kids out shopping. He introduced the girls to great comedy teams such as Abbott and Costello, Laurel & Hardy, also playing music at home such as Jazz or songs by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. He owned many tapes of the classic Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, which still bring laughter in the family. Thoroughly Italian, Frank made the most delicious pasta, meatballs and sausage. Dane's maternal grandfather Tony even raved about Frank's cooking.

Professionally, Frank started his sign career at Carter Signs in 1968. After the company was bought out, he moved to Innovative Graphics in the mid-70s. Frank was talented and received many awards. He was the top salesman and the family joked, "Frank could sell ice to Eskimos." Branching out, he started his own wholesale neon sign company in 1984. Dane joined him and together they founded Sign Methods Inc. in 1990. It became a full service sign company serving America's leading corporations for major chain stores and retail centers. Frank would scare many young sales guys over the years, but he'd tell them a story, give them an education on life, and they grew to love him.

Frank's most satisfying extravagance in life was his white convertible Cadillac. It's a 1975 fully restored Eldorado, a beautiful big parade car, and Frank loved it. He also loved his German Shepherd, Panzer. He named the dog after a German tank. That dog even ate Frank's spaghetti.

An avid reader, Frank was well-educated and self-educated. He read books, newspapers and was always on top of current events. He was interested in geography, history and he read many biographies over the years. He watched the history channel, the military channel and John Wayne Westerns. He absorbed knowledge and willingly shared it with others. As a result, he could hold a conversation with anyone. He also had a great sense of humor, he loved to laugh, he always had a joke on hand and liked watching World's Funniest Home Videos and World's Funniest Animals.

Frank loved Jazz music, Big Band, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Etta James. He enjoyed going to Birdland West to hear great Jazz music in Long Beach. Frank's home was very important to him. He liked gardening as his backyard was nice, neat, and he had Night Blooming Jasmine growing. He talked to Karen's mom about flowers, plants and gardening because she had an interest in it as well. For more than 40 years, Frank spent Christmas Day with the Steinbergers, while other holidays were spent with Karen's parents and her family. In fact, it was like one big extended family. Frank truly treated Karen's family like his own and he was known as Grandpa Bill to everyone. Frank enjoyed Sunday dinners with Karen's parents until they moved to Missouri. The family held a wonderful 60th birthday party for Frank at the yacht club. They had a band and 100 friends attended the party. Frank had a terrific time, creating delightful memories.

If you were Frank's friend, you were his best friend. He socialized with several different groups and had hundreds of friends. He enjoyed going to the Cerritos Performing Arts Theatre with friends, he had close pals from high school and friends from work. He liked doling out good life advice and politics. He was concerned with today's world and how people treated those serving in the military. He was a very patriotic man, who hung the American Flag with pride in front of his home. He worked at air shows, volunteered, and collected donations from associates for military troops in need. Frank's advice was always important. If you had a choice to make, he could tell you what you should be doing and carry on a conversation with anyone, making everyone appreciate him.

Despite health concerns, a triple bypass, and a liver transplant, Frank was like a cat that seemed to have nine lives as he bounced back again and again. Up until January of this year, he loved being busy. He still went to work, stirred the pot, went out to lunch and went home. He loved to hold the babies and when his great-grandson was born, he used every chance to have him in his arms. He had a real appreciation of every generation. His son, his family and his work were his pride and joy. His purpose in life was to be a good father and a good friend to everyone. Dane is just like his father. In fact, he is the whole package because of his father's influence. Frank was a great role model.

The day before Easter, Frank was very emotional and he told everyone, "I love you." He held Dane's hand a lot and wanted everyone to know that he loved them. His wish was to stay at home and his family honored his wishes, even having an at-home caretaker help him. Organ donation had saved his life and it was in his directive for him to be an organ donor if he could be. He loved the people in his world and if he could, he would help others. Frank had more than 60 visitors in the ICU and the hospital was very nice about it. They could see that Frank was loved and adored by so many people.

Whether you knew him as Frank, Grandpa Bill, or Uncle Bill, he will be remembered as strong, loving, ornery, very loyal, and honorable. Dane and his family will miss Frank's presence, his advice and friendship every day. Grandpa Bill will be remembered with smiles. He wouldn't want his family and friends to be sad at his passing. Instead, he'd advise everyone to celebrate his life, remember him, and go on living. In that spirit, the family will have a video camera at the reception to hear stories they haven't heard before... there are so many stories yet to hear. Frank believed in God and his family feels they will be reunited with him again one day.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents and grandmother Rose. He is loved and remembered by his son Dane and daughter-in-law Karen; granddaughters Sarah and Samantha; great-grandchildren Rylee and Jack; brother Sonny; extended family and many close friends.

Memorial donations are welcome to two military organizations that Frank supported: Orange County Navy League (ocnavyleague.com) and Home Front America (www.homefrontamerica.org).