News Release

A Place of Remembrance and Honor for Helen Chavez

Date: June 10, 2016
Contact: Dana Dierkes, [phone]

KEENE, CA — Crowds will gather at César E. Chávez National Monument on Monday, June 13, to honor the life and legacy of Helen Fabela Chavez as she is buried next to her husband in the Memorial Garden at the monument at La Paz in Keene, CA. Helen Chavez played a vital role helping her husband give birth to and sustain the first enduring farm workers union in U.S. history.

Superintendent Ruben Andrade said, “Helen Chavez was a special person—warm, caring, and full of interesting stories about her husband and family. She will be missed.” He added, “Helen’s legacy will be shared with visitors as one of many compelling stories at César E. Chávez National Monument. We welcome you to visit this special place.”

Specific details about all of the services for Helen Chavez, provided by the Cesar Chavez Foundation, are below:
 

• 6 p.m., Sunday, June 12, 2016 — Rosary and all-night vigil at the Villa La Paz Conference and Education Center, 29700 Woodford-Tehachapi Rd., Keene, CA 93531. (Villa La Paz is on the far north side of the 187-acre grounds of the National Chavez Center in Keene.)
• 9 a.m., Monday, June 13, 2016 — Mass of Christian Burial, St. Malachy Catholic Church, 407 West E St., Tehachapi, CA 93561. (St. Malachy, Cesar and Helen Chavez’s parish, is in Tehachapi 10 miles southeast of Keene off Hwy. 58.)

 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 47050 Generals Hwy. Three Rivers, CA 93271 559 565-3341 phone [phone] fax  

Immediately following—Burial next to Cesar Chavez’s grave in the Memorial Garden of the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, also at 29700 Woodford-Tehachapi Rd., Keene, CA 93531. (The Memorial Garden is adjacent to the Visitor Center, the first large structure seen after entering the property.) Onsite parking for the burial is limited and a short walk will be required. Limited transportation services, provided courtesy of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, may be available for people with physical challenges. Look for signs along the highway with the location of shuttle information.

Media availabilities/interviews will be arranged on site after the burial.

NOTE: There may be standing room only in overflow areas near the church and Memorial Garden.

The National Park Service is working in partnership with the Chavez Family and Cesar Chavez Foundation by assisting with preparations for and staffing at burial services at the monument.

Although capacity is limited Monday at the church in Tehachapi and the graveside services in Keene, there will be overflow areas during the Mass at the church and in the parking lot next to the Memorial Garden at César E. Chávez National Monument. As space will be limited, please RSVP for planning purposes to [e-mail].

- NPS -