Helen Chávez Dead At 88: 15 Facts To Remember Late Mexican Activist, Cesar Chávez Widow

Helen Chávez, Mexican activist and widow of Civil Rights activist César Chávez, died Monday at age 88 in Bakersfield, California.

Helen, who was primarily known for her contributions to the labor activist movement of the United Farm Workers, passed away from natural causes and was surrounded by family at the time of her death, reports the César Chavez Foundation.

A public statement released by the foundation expressed the following:

Helen Fabela Chavez, 88, who played a vital role helping her husband give birth to what became the first enduring farm workers union in U.S. history—and sustained him during the 31 years he led the United Farm Workers of America—passed away of natural causes on Monday, June 6 at San Joaquin Community Hospital in Bakersfield surrounded by many of her seven surviving children, 31 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Chávez, who was first generation Mexican-American, was described in the statement as a humble woman who used her "fierce determination to help change the lives of thousands of farm workers and millions of others who were inspired by La Causa."

For those who may not be aware of this exceptional human being, here are some facts to know of the late chicana. May she rest in peace.

1) Helena was born January 21, 1928 in Brawley, California to Eloisa and Vidal Fabela. She was the eldest of two sisters and four brothers.

2) Her father was one of Pancho Villa's colonels during the Mexican Revolution.

3) As the daughter of two migrant laborers, Helen began working in the fields at a young age.

4) The family moved to Delano, where Helen attended Delano High School.

5) After her father passed away, Helen dropped out of school during her sophomore year to help her mother raise her siblings.

6) She worked in a grocery store, in the fields and vineyards full-time.

7) She met Cesar Chávez in 1942 during the time she was still in high school.

8) The couple married in the fall of 1948 in Reno, Nevada. Helen was 20 years old.

9) Together they had eight children: Fernando, Sylvia, Linda, Eloise, Liz, Paul, Anna, and Anthony, and 31 grandchildren.

10) In 1962, the couple moved from East Los Angeles into a small two-bedroom house in Delano to begin organizing farm workers.

11) She was a labor activist for the United Farm Workers (UFW), a labor union for farmworkers in the United States.

12) The UFW is the merging of two organizations: Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee(AWOC) led by Filipino Larry Itliong, and the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA) led by César Chávez and Dolores Huerta.

13) Although her husband was a public figure, Helen was more reserved and never spoke at public events or granted interviews.

14) In fact, one of her most public moments was in 1966 when she was arrested for yelling "huelga!" at the W.B. Camp ranch in demand for union recognition.

15) Her "acts of civil disobedience" have encouraged other Mexican women and Chicanas to undergo arrest for the sake of greater good.