Gregory Nava recalls Dolores Huerta's peaceful final moments

Dolores Huerta, the co-founder of the United Farm Workers, died Wednesday morning in Bakersfield. She was 96. Her family confirmed she passed at her daughter's home due to cancer.

Gregory Nava, an award-winning film director, was present for Huerta's final hours. He described the experience as powerful and overwhelming. Nava and his wife have been close to Huerta for decades. They had planned to visit her before her health took a sudden turn.

Nava said Huerta appeared like her old self a few days before her death. Her condition deteriorated quickly in those final moments. He noted that she seemed at peace while surrounded by her loved ones.

The group played music for Huerta during her last day. They included the song 'Recolores,' which served as an anthem for the farmworker movement. Nava stated that the song affected her deeply because it summarized her life's journey. He called it almost impossible to imagine what she had survived.

Before her death, Huerta and Nava discussed a movie about her life. She gave him specific instructions on how to frame the story. Nava recalled asking her what the story should be about. He said she replied, 'I don't want it to be about me.' She added that the story should inspire a new generation of activists who fight for justice.

Nava now plans to complete the film to keep her light in the world. He said her accomplishments were unbelievable. He emphasized that it is up to the new generation to carry her torch into the future.

On a personal level, Huerta enjoyed life and fun. Nava said she loved Mexican music and flamenco. He often took her to the opera. They always enjoyed attending shows together.

Hector Hernandez, a neighbor who lived a few doors down from Huerta for more than a decade, said he was shocked by the news. He said he checked his morning news and saw that she had passed away. He noted that he did not know she was sick.

Huerta was born Dolores Clara Fernández on April 10, 1930, in Dawson, New Mexico. She moved to Stockton, California, at age 3. Her mother brought her there after her parents divorced. She witnessed racism against Latino Americans early in her life. These experiences inspired her activism.

The National Women's History Museum lists two key events from her childhood. A schoolteacher once accused her of cheating because her papers were too well-written. In 1945, white men beat her brother for wearing a zoot suit. She took the surname Huerta after marrying her second husband, fellow activist Ventura Huerta. She earned an associate teaching degree from the University of the Pacific's Delta College. She taught school briefly in the 1950s. Working with hungry farm children motivated her to organize farmers and farmworkers.