RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Helen Chavez has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 88; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of her passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Helen Chavez was the widow of the late labor leader Cesar Chavez; and
WHEREAS, Born in Brawley, California near the Mexican border, Helen Chavez met her future husband in the mid-1940s and the couple were married in 1948; and
WHEREAS, Beginning in the early 1960s, Helen and Cesar Chavez began organizing farm workers in Central Valley; and
WHEREAS, While Helen Chavez helped to build the movement, she chose to remain in the background and was known for her quiet humility and perseverance; and
WHEREAS, Helen Chavez raised a close and loving family of eight children in Delano, California while her husband organized farm workers, traveled and made speeches on behalf of the farm labor movement; and
WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez, along with Dolores Huerta, founded the National Farm Workers Association which later became known as the UFW; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Helen Chavez serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, Helen Chavez will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To her beloved family, Helen Chavez imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this twenty-second day of June, 2016, do hereby commemorate Helen Chavez for her grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to her family; and