Comments on: Remembering Zeferina Perez

By: Maria Duran-Soto

Maria Duran-Soto — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:49:21 +0000

Zeferina was and will always be the greates woman in the world. I went to a couple events with her and my mom. Zeferina love my mom and her children so much. When my mom was looking for a home to rent, Zeferina offer us her home in merced and she moved to Le Grand, and for that i will alway be greatfull for.
Thank you Zeferina for all your help and love that you brought to our family. I will forever keep you in my memory and my heart.

By: Luisa Lopez

Luisa Lopez — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:49:47 +0000

Doña Zefe,
Mujer valiente, Mujer activa, Mujer leal a su fe, Mujer de buen corazon, Mujer maestra, Mujer madre, Mujer de paz, Mujer lider, Mujer que siempre contesto al llamado… Mujer de Dios! Gracias Doña Zefe por toda su gracia. Descanse en paz!
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces …
(Isaiah 25:8)

By: Giev Kashkooli

Giev Kashkooli — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 04:53:56 +0000

Dona Zeferina’s energy, will, sense of humor, and commitment modeled leadership every day. Like for many people, Dona Zeferina taught me how to take access. I remember riding to take access one of my first days working w/the UFW at 5:00 am, in a van full of people I did not know. She sat silently, praying, smiling. Then, when we took access, she was a woman transformed, loudly ordering a foreman around — the foreman mistakenly believed he was in charge. Zeferina inspired and taught me every time I got to be with her- in small delegations, at rallies in Sacramento, on long marches. I will miss you.

By: Abby Rivera

Abby Rivera — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:44:08 +0000

Jorge had to meet with workers for a contract ratification in Livingston late one evening so I tagged along for the company. Zeferina was not taking part in the meeting but she had already put in a long day’s work at the office. She offered me coffee.It was nice talking and laughing with her. When we finished our coffee we started washing the dirty cups and others that had accunalated in the sink during. Meanwhile the meeting dragged on and I made the remark that a woman’s work is never done. Not the dishwashing mind you, I told her: but her having to stay late until the end of the meeting to lock up the union office. We smiled at each other because we made the connection without having to say it aloud about how our roles as women in the union had really taken us to a place we never could have imagined. Doing the dishes was just a nice break! Later I hears she retired and I couldn’t picture it- she was a truly spunky Chavista organizer. My prayers to her family that has had so much heartbreaking loss of late. Viva!

By: Esther Uranday

Esther Uranday — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:58:48 +0000

I will always remember Zeferina for always being there for the Union whenever she was needed. Her tireless efforts in helping the farm workers will be remembered always. The workers would do whatever she wanted. She always took all of the hard core union viejitos everywhere for the marches. Estos eran los que nunca se cansaban y estaban dispuestos a dar su vida por la Causa de la Union, igual que ella. Zeferina, siempre viviras en nuestros corazones por tus esfuerzos encansables. VIVA ZEFERINA!

By: Karen May

Karen May — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 23:14:54 +0000

I will always treasure my memory of Zeferina, who was instantly warm and welcoming when I first joined the UFW as a young organizer. Zeferina was my roomate on a campaign in the Bay Area, and while we couldn’t always understand eachother’s words, we communicated heart to heart — her smile and laugh were infectious. She had that inner joy, a love of life and the cause she was committed to, that made her shine and inspire others to work as hard as she did. Gracias, Zeferina, for all of your tireless work over the years, and for the inspiration and joy you brought to us all. Que Viva Zeferina!

By: Lucy Boutte

Lucy Boutte — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 20:11:23 +0000

Zeferina, you go as many great men & women “de la causa” have gone before you. I can only try to imagine the great rejoicing welcomed you as you entered more fully into the “eternal”. You were always a women of faith in the power of the individual, now you may rest assured that you fought the good fight, you never waivered, and now you reached the end. Yet I believe, as I think you do, that for believers, their is no end and death in this human experience is merely entering into the glorious next existence with the Almighty, who loves and embraces all his creatures. Peace and give the UFW handshake & a hug to my good friend Gilbert, all the rest of our companeros and of course our jefe, Cesar.

By: leonidas lantz

leonidas lantz — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:05:41 +0000

May God rest her soul.

By: Lori Huerta de Leon

Lori Huerta de Leon — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:00:44 +0000

Zeferina Vive!

In reading the tributes from so many who knew and loved Zeferina, her life, love and commitment, to social justice lives in each person she touched.

I have known Zeferina for more than thirty-five years.
She was always selfless, ready and willing to do anything asked of her for La Causa! She also was one of the first to be presente at any civic action, and although her English was limited, she had the courage to face the legislators and demand justice for farm workers.

Always with a positive attitude and lots of love. She opened her home and her heart to many of us. A true treasure that will be missed by all that knew her.

Viva Zeferina!

Lori Huerta de Leon

By: Julianna Uranday - Osorno

Julianna Uranday - Osorno — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:21:36 +0000

Zeferina what a great woman. I remember her from working at the office in Delano, at the 40 Acres, & working with my mom Esther Uranday. Zeferina was always so good to everyone. And she was a hard working woman, she would drive from her home in LeGrand to Delano everyday for work, and still in between that she would still drive. We were always concerned about her. But if the Cause needed her she was always there, no matter what time of day it was, or what needed to be done, she never said no. She had so much love for the Union, and for everyone,and was always so caring. She was always so loving to my Son Eric, when she would she him she would always give him a big hug, and would always bring him a jar of her Salsa, she new Eric loved her Salsa. She was always good to my grandmother Fita, she would dance with her at the office and my grandmother would dance with her, and she would laugh. I can picture that. And I bet you that is what they are doing at this very moment. Zeferina I will truly miss you, but you will always have a place in my heart, and I will never forget you. Viva Dona Zeferina!