Nicole Michele Cardoza, of Alpine, went home to the Lord on Saturday, May 8, surrounded by her loving family.  Nicole was born on March 27, 1979 to Enrique Dominguez Jr. and Elva Gonzales Dominguez.  She was raised in Mason and was a graduate of Mason High School.  On June 22, 1996 she married her High School Sweetheart Edward Cardoza and their marriage was blessed with five children.

Nicole loved to read and turned this passion for reading into a career, working as a circulation librarian for the Alpine Public Library. She was a loving and dedicated mother and wife.  Nicole put others before herself and was a wonderful mother, aunt, sister, friend and daughter-in-law.  She was a Christian woman of strong faith, always uplifting others with scripture and encouragement. Nicole's warm smile put people at ease and made them feel welcome.   She had a soft spot in her heart for animals, especially her dogs Oso and Cinco and her cat Sunshine. Nicole loved sunflowers and enjoyed taking photographs, walking, hiking and Zumba. She always enjoyed her time with her family and loved to cook and bake. Her greatest joy was being a grandmother to Mariela.

Those left to cherish her memory include her husband Edward Cardoza and their children, Bianca Michele, Alyssandra Renee, Loreyna Grace, Joseph Edwardo and Nicholas Alejandro all of Alpine, a granddaughter Mariela Teresa Vega, Nicole's parents Enrique Dominguez Jr. and Elva Dominguez of Mason, sisters Christina Gonzales (Joe Angel) of Mason, Stephanie Hernandez (Joshua James) of Mason, brothers Benjamin Dominguez (Brittney) of Mason and Reyes Dominguez of Austin, father and mother-in-law Juan Jose and Hortencia Cardoza of Mason, sisters-in-law Monica Lewis (Cory) of Mason, Esmeralda Ramon (B.J., Jr.) of Sonora and Hope Gomez (Raudel) of Mason and 20 nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by a brother Conrad Dominguez.

Visitation with the family will be Wednesday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home.  The funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 13, at 2:00 p.m. at Mason Funeral Home with Pastor T. J. Joyner leading the service.  Interment will follow in the Gooch Cemetery.  Serving as pallbearers are Guadalupe Gonzales, Richard Gonzales, Jose Avalos, Raymundo Avalos III, Danny Dominguez and Joe Chris Dominguez.  Honorary pallbearers are David Torres, Ignacio Ramirez, Rick Orta and Michael Zavala.

Condolences may be sent to the family on-line at masonfuneralhome.net .

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Mason Funeral Home.