The second day after Cesar Chavez’ passing a small miracle
La Paz, Ca.,_ Early that morning the still stunned family and colleagues of Cesar Chavez awoke for the second time in a state of shock and disbelief. Helen Chavez still seemed dazed and like the rest of those close to Chavez it was still not real. People again began arriving as the various parties involved in his family and organizational affairs worked on funeral arrangements in between greeting and comforting friends, family, union members and guests who had come to pay their respects.
Late the day before Irving Nichols, the African American former farm worker and friend of Cesar asked his friend, Richard Ybarra, if someone could bring Cesar a change of clothes that could be worn for the week.
At the same time Cesar’s brother Richard had begun honoring a promise to his brother. Some 11 years before, and perhaps even earlier, after attending Dorothy Day’s funeral service, Cesar had asked that he be buried in a pine box casket. What he forgot in that wish was that his brother Richard was and is a master carpenter who can make anything look regal. Richard began working with pine.
This second day was a Sunday. Irving informed the family that Cesar was ready to be brought home for family viewing and services.
When informed, Helen asked two of her daughters, Anna and Liz, to go to Cesar’s office and in his desk find a rosary for her to carry when his body arrived. They both looked and searched diligently – the thorough way only women seem to be able to do and nothing, no rosary. A bit later, Helen who was certain there was one where she had indicated went in herself. That’s when she found it. The rosary yes, but with it a beautiful card with colored birds on the front, dated July 1976. The handwriting was Cesar’s. In part it read, “My Dearest Darling Helen… As I write this while traveling I am reminded of you and your love…. We are like the sand and the water….love, Cesar”. It was called a miracle because both daughters had looked in that drawer, Cesar had never given it to Helen and from that moment on her spark of life returned and she began welcoming and greeting people and cooking for the hundreds of daily arrivals.
When Cesar arrived later that day, there were dozens of family members and others there to greet him. He was brought into the lobby outside his office where there was a grotto with the Virgen de Guadalupe. After Irving situated his body people were ushered in to pay their respects and see Cesar’s body for the first time since his passing two days before. First it was Helen by herself, then his children, his sisters and brothers, grandchildren, other family and then others. Irving Nichols had outdone people in his business. Cesar looked so life like and as if he might awaken at any moment to say he was just kidding. Grandchildren especially, twirled his gray hair in ways like he had done very often himself. Though sad and somber a new spirit had arrived in all their lives.
