Born in Chicago, his novitiate year was spent in Teutopolis, Illinois, followed by undergraduate studies at Our Lady of Angels Seminary in Quincy, Illinois, and graduate studies in theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He was ordained a Franciscan priest of the Sacred Heart Province in 1972. His assignments included parishes in Ohio, Texas, Indiana and Wisconsin. He was director of formation at Sacred Heart Friary in Indianapolis. He also served at the St. Francis Solanus, Chippawa Reservation, Reserve in Wisconsin and in the Diocese of Fairbanks serving multiple Alaskan villages. The people there bestowed the title on him of White Eagle, a high honor.

At Mercy Hospital South, he celebrated daily Mass and visited the patients as well as the doctors, nurses, housekeeping staff and others there. Father Cardy used a small wooden cross in giving a blessing to patients. Afterward, he gave them the cross, which was a little smaller than the size of his hand and made by Leo Odendahl, a St. David in Arnold parishioner with a woodworking hobby.

Father Cardy was known for his love of the outdoors, bird watching, both the Cubs and Cardinals baseball teams, and his adopted city of St. Louis.

Survivors include a brother, Don Cardy, and two sisters, Sally Mosko and Carol Cardy Cueno. Burial was in All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois.