Remembering Zeferina Perez

 

 Sad News:

Long time supporter and UFW organizer Zeferina Perez passed away on September 9, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. 

Zeferina’s son Angel passed away on 6/28/09 and her daughter Linda, passed away on 8/15/09.  Zeferina  suffered a stroke on  8/19/09 after her daughter passed away and was in   Merced Nursing & Rehabilitation , but  was taken home by her daughter Maria last Friday, 9/4/09. She took ill on 9/9/09 and was taken to the hospital where she passed away at 11:00 a.m.

Zeferina  was a long time organizer for the UFW and was always ready to do whatever she was asked to help the union. She worked in many campaigns too numerous to mention here.
(Click to read a Jan. 2009 article about Zeferina)

SERVICES ARE  AS FOLLOWS:

ROSARY:   
7:00 P.M., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009
OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC CHURCH
13145 Le Grand Rd.,  LeGrand, CA

MASS: 
10:00 A.M., FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
OUR LADY OF LOURDES CATHOLIC CHURCH
13145 Le Grand Rd.,  LeGrand, CA
     
We ask that you please share your personal memories of  Zeferina with us by leaving a “reply” below. If you have a photos of Zepherina, please share them by sending them to jsherman@ufw.org.

May She Rest in Peace ┼

Zeferina was a great warrior. She had a tremendous passion, faith and work ethic. Zeferina’s dedication and commitment was an inspiration to me. I will always remember her contagious smile, her Si Se Puede attitude and her tireless efforts on behalf of the union and farm workers.

Que Viva Zeferina Perez!

– UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez

Cesar was always embarrassed being singled out for praise because he knew there were so many others who made great sacrifices for La Causa. These were men and women who went mostly unrecognized but who also found meaning in their lives by selflessly giving themselves for others. Zeferina was one of those very special servants. She labored relentlessly in her quiet and simple ways, never seeking credit or fame. May Zeferina now enjoy the rewards she has so richly earned. Que en paz descanse.

–Helen Chavez and the Chavez Family

Remembering Our Long Time Friend, Senator Edward Kennedy

Senator Kennedy was a champion for farm workers.  The Farm Worker Movement expresses our deepest condolences to the Kennedy Family. Click to read resolution from UFW’s August 2008 Convention honoring our longtime friendship.

Please share your personal memories of  Senator Kennedy by leaving a “reply” below. Viva Kennedy!

United Farm Workers of America:
Why we loved Sen. Ted Kennedy

By UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez and
Paul F. Chavez, President Cesar E Chavez Foundation

Since Sen. Edward M. Kennedy championed the cause of Cesar Chavez and the Farm Worker Movement after picking up the mantle from Sen. Robert F. Kennedy following his assassination in 1968, no national political leader has more effectively and selflessly embraced the farm workers’ cause.

Year after year, Sen. Kennedy stood shoulder to shoulder with the farm workers in good times and bad during marches and rallies, political campaigns and legislative battles from the halls of the United States Senate to the dusty farm fields of California.

As United Farm Workers co-founder Dolores Huerta once said, Robert and Ted Kennedy “didn’t come to us and tell us what was good for us. All they said was, ‘What do you want? And how can I help?’ That’s why we love them.”

From helping convince Congress to end the infamous Bracero Program in 1964 to becoming the driving force in recent years behind the United Farm Workers’ historic AgJobs immigration reform bill in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Kennedy never failed to respond to the farm workers’ call for help.

In the last several years, Sen. Kennedy was a leading author of the landmark AgJobs bill, negotiated by the UFW and the nation’s agricultural industry to allow undocumented farm workers in this country to earn the permanent legal right to stay by continuing to work in agriculture.

The best way to honor Sen. Kennedy’s commitment and selflessness is to continue advancing the farm workers’ cause he unequivocally supported.

Comment by UFW Co-Founder Dolores Huerta

This is a great loss for the Latino community because Senator Kennedy was such a steadfast advocate and supporter of the the Latino community and farm workers specifically.

We should honor his memory by joining in the fight for universal health care and immigration reform.

Viva Ted Kennedy!

Recordando a Gustavo “Compis” Romero

La Noticia Triste: Un miembro del personal de la UFW por muchos anos, ha fallecido. Gustavo (Compis) Romero falleció el Jueves, 4 de Junio de 2009 a las 9:50 p.m. en Delano.

Un Servicio Memorial se llevara acabo el Domingo, 14 de Junio, 2009 a las 11:00  a.m. en Casa Hernandez donde el vivía por varios anos. La dirección del sitio es 200 So. Albany St. en Delano, CA. Por favor oprima aquí para RSVP si piensa asistir a los servicios.

Si puede asistir o no puede asistir, de todos modos,  le pedimos que compartan sus memorias personales de Compis, en dejando  una  respuesta abajo. Viva Compis!

“Cesar sabia que había muchos Cesar Chavezes en el movimiento — había muchos hombres y mujeres que habían hecho sacrificios inmensos y gran cosas consumadas, pero que nunca han recibido mucho reconocimiento. Gustavo (“Compis”) Romero fue una de esas figuras heroicas en La Unión de Campesinos. El nunca ondeó en su compromiso. El dio todo para la unión, y más, y esa devoción le dio significando a su vida. Compis dijo una vez, ‘El objetivo de la unión fue para que los campesinos puedan desahogarse de sus quejas y conseguir una justicia pequeña’. Compis pasó la vida haciendo que suceda. Nosotros lo extrañaremos bastante”. –Helen Chávez

“Desde el día que él se unió para la huelga en los campos de lechuga del Valle de Salinas en 1970, Compis llegó a ser uno de esas personas generosas que dedicaron a sí mismo totalmente a la causa de los campesinos. Compis decía que Cesar le enseñaba el poder de dar a personas algo cuando usted no pide nada en regreso. Cesar y Compis compartieron mucho en común y ellos falsificaron una amistad cercana que duró para el resto de sus vidas. Ahora ellos son unidos una vez más juntos en fraternidad y solidaridad.”
–Presidente de la Unión de Campesinos,Arturo S. Rodríguez

Remembering Gustavo “Compis” Romero

Sad News: Long time UFW staffer and close friend Gustavo “Compis” Romero passed away on Thursday 6/4/09 at 9:50pm in Delano.

Prayer services will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 11 am at Casa Hernandez at 200 S. Albany St, Delano, CA, 93215.  Please click here to RSVP if you are attending the service.

Whether or not you are able to attend, we ask that you please share your personal memories of  Compis with us by leaving a “reply” below. Viva Compis!

“Cesar knew there were many Cesar Chavezes in the movement–there  were many men and women who made huge sacrifices and accomplished great  things, but who never got much recognition. Gustavo (“Compis”) Romero was one  of those heroic figures in the United Farm Workers. He never wavered in his  commitment. He gave everything for the union, and more, and that devotion gave  meaning to his life. Compis once said, ‘The aim of the union was so  that farm workers could air their grievances and get a little justice.’ Compis  spent his life making it happen. We will miss him very much.”–Helen Chavez

“From the day he walked out on strike in the Salinas Valley lettuce fields in 1970, Compis became one of those selfless people who totally dedicated themselves to the farm workers’ cause. Compis used to say Cesar taught him the power of giving people something when you don’t ask for anything in return. Cesar and Compis shared much in common and they forged a close friendship that lasted for the rest of their lives. Now they are once again united together in brotherhood and solidarity.”–UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez