Elsie Jo (Martin) Cardone , 85, of Souderton Mennonite Home in Souderton, PA, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

Elsie Jo was born in Sparta, Tennessee, to the late Claude and Shirley (Roberts) Martin.  After graduating from White County High School in 1954, Elsie Jo received a BA degree from the University of Tennessee Memphis School of Nursing in 1958, serving as the Class President.  In 1958, she married Lynn Halteman and began a military life living at Fort Bragg, Panama Canal Zone, and other military bases.  As the wife of a Green Beret Special Operations Army Major, Elsie Jo grew her patriotic commitment to the United States of America.  She was known to say, "God Bless America. Freedom is not free."

Following her residency in the Panama Canal Zone, Elsie Jo served as a Registered Nurse in various roles at Sparta Hospital in Tennessee.  Later, she joined the White County Public Health Department, initiating home health visits with those who had never seen a health professional in their life.  Following that outreach, Elsie Jo became Middle Tennessee's Public Health Director.

To provide a positive environment to raise her children, Elsie Jo moved her daughter and son along with two dogs and a shotgun to a home at Center Hill Lake in Tennessee.  At the lake, a strong sense of community, exploration of nature, and resource sharing grew among life-long friends and family.

In 1979, Elsie Jo became the loving wife of the late John Cardone and moved to Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, where they lived for 26 years.  At the closure of the family business, Cardo Automotive, Elsie Jo, and John started High Tech Automotive, a carburetor re-manufacturing business in Southampton, PA.  Regularly being the first to arrive and last to leave, Elsie Jo stretched herself as a leader in all facets of the business operation.  Although Elsie Jo's true passion was giving compassionate, individualized nursing care, she brought that same mindset to High Tech.  This resulted in her being best remembered for her servant leadership, caring for staff members, families, and customers.

With Cardone Family and Friends, Elsie Jo made a covenant to launch Christian Life Center, a family-oriented church for the Northeastern suburbs of Philadelphia.  For many years, she, along with the extraordinary Cardone ladies, cooked homemade Italian dinners for Sunday and Wednesday services so that more families could participate in the church activities.

After John passed away, Elsie Jo moved to Harrington Village in Souderton, PA, and became an Immanuel Leidy's Church member.  Later, she lived with her daughter's family before moving to Souderton Mennonite Home, where she enjoyed sitting under the lobby's Apple Tree greeting visitors and residents.  In addition, she actively supported Living Branches Creative Arts Therapy program and volunteered with Mennonite Central Committee Material Resource Center with fellow residents.

Elsie Jo often told her children and grandchildren, "Through adversity, we build character." She applied her favorite verses 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 as the best way to handle situations and develop long-lasting, trusting relationships. (Love is Patient, Love is Kind … Love never fails.)

Elsie Jo is survived by her daughter, Lisa A. Halteman and husband Michael Meyer of New Hope, PA; her son, Alan L. Halteman and wife Kathy of Souderton, PA; three grandchildren, Amber, Ashley, and Michael; and her sister, Claudine Smith, and nephew, Tyler Smith, of Cookeville, TN.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at 11:00 am EST at Anders-Detweiler Funeral Home & Crematory, 130 E. Broad St., Souderton, PA. 18964.  Friends may meet with the family from 10am EST to the time of service.  Livestreaming of the service will begin at 11:00am.

In place of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Living Branches Foundation, Souderton Mennonite Agape Fund, 275 Dock Drive, Lansdale, PA 19446.

Arrangements by: Anders-Detweiler Funeral Home & Crematory, 130 East Broad Street, Souderton, Pennsylvania 18964. To send online condolences to the family, visit www.andersfh.com .