The Funeral Mass for Cesar Chavez, April 30, 1993
Delano, Ca.,_ The start of another early and long day for all those who loved, knew and admired Cesar Chavez. The day before Ethel Kennedy and other family members had arrived. During an interview with the Bakersfield Californian she was asked to compare her husband, Bobby, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar and in part she answered, “Cesar was the only one who was a saint.”
As the sun was just coming up people began to line up at Memorial Park and along the three mile route Cesar had walked many times on farm worker related issues including the funeral services for Naji Daifullah who was killed by a Kern County Sheriff’s Deputy during the 1973 grape strike. The route was very familiar and people were also lining the streets along the way. The Forty Acres where Cesar’s body lied in state was beginning to welcome the earliest of the 40,000 – 50,000 people who would be attending Cesar’s funeral procession and Mass on this last day in April Friday.
Nearly 100 relatives, friends and close associates gathered one more time with Helen and the Chavez clan. Ethel and the Kennedy’s were there again to show their love and pay final respects to the man who had come to be known as her late husband’s dear friend and fellow icon. Cardinal Mahony was there to give a final blessing. What also took place was Cesar’s grand daughter Cynthia, being asked to place the ear of corn native Americans had left as “food for his journey” into the coffin with her Tata Cesar. The prayers were said and the group got into the nine, House of Winston Cadillac’s that had come to carry mourners on this somber occasion.
As the cars turned out of the Forty Acres and drove the three mile route to where the procession was to begin the crowds were already growing by the hundreds, then thousands. The line of humanity was mind boggling for this town of 20,000. The CHP and the CCC young people were directing traffic. The families and young people stood out along with the many Anglos, Blacks, Asians and especially Native Americans who had come to join the procession and services this day.
The cars unloaded near the front of the procession and were greeted by Cardinal Mahony who had come to lead the procession along with the customary banner of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Then with a loud note from a Indian dancer’s concha shell the procession was on and this day’s services were underway. Cesar’s body was carried by six of his grandsons and later would have many others take turns. The likes of Jerry Brown, Jessie Jackson, Martin Sheen and Edward James Olmos were just a few. The crowds were well behaved but the lines were at times blurred. The sounds of thousands of feet were joined by chants of Viva Cesar Chavez, Viva La Virgen de Guadalupe and movement songs. It was humanity at its best but also with a certain intensity of purpose.
Cesar’s Mass was a solemn family funeral service. Grandson’s and grand daughters served as altar assistants and son Fernando and Dolores Huerta offered brief eulogies. In his homily the cardinal said, “Cesar was a special prophet.” That was important and something that resonated throughout the gathering of over 40,000. Many had come from far to honor someone who had always carried his share of the load. Cesar Chavez presente!
