We learned with genuine sadness of the passing on June 7 of Julianna Uranday-Osorno, an original United Farm Workers’ member who spent a lifetime giving herself wholeheartedly to both the movement and her family.
She was born in Delano on May 27, 1963, the youngest of three children of Esther and Manuel Uranday, pioneers in what became the UFW. Helen Chavez, Cesar Chavez’s wife, was her godmother. The Urandays informed Cesar Filipino grape workers had just struck growers in and around Delano on Sept. 8, 1965.
Julianna grew up with her family on vineyard picket lines. She also spent time picketing supermarkets in big cities for boycotts of grapes and other products.
Raised in Delano and Earlimart, she attended the movement’s Huelga School. After graduating Delano High School Julianna briefly went to work with the Kern County Welfare Department. Then she spent a few years serving full time with the UFW at its Forty Acres complex in Delano, helping union members with issues and questions.
Julianna cared for her only son, Eric Silva, after he was born in 1985, and then for her grandmother, Josephine Tarango, when she became ill, all while still working part-time with the union.
When Cesar Chavez passed away in 1993, her mother, Esther, became assistant to UFW President Arturo S. Rodriguez. Esther, Julianna, Eric and Josephine all moved to La Paz, union headquarters at Keene. There, Julianna continued caring for her grandmother and also during the day for Andres and Daniella Chavez, the youngest children of Paul and Socorro Chavez.
Julianna joined the entire family regularly taking part in most UFW marches, boycotts, protests and union conventions—journeying as far as the state Capitol in Sacramento for the conclusions of farm worker marches.
They moved to a house in Bakersfield in the early 2000s to be closer to family members there and in Delano.
Julianna married Gilbert Osorno in 2006, moving back to Delano with him and resuming her work with the union at Forty Acres. She returned to Bakersfield after he passed away in 2010, when Julianna started working once more with the UFW at La Paz.
She only ceased her union service after being diagnosed with cancer in 2024. She bravely battled the disease. To honor Julianna for her birthday, last May 28 Lisa Ortiz, Sara Garza Nuno, Alicia Huerta and many others organized a cruise-by. Julianna sat in Bakersfield’s Jastro Park while some 60 low-riders—more than 100 people belonging to Bakersfield car clubs—drove by her in tribute.
“The farm worker movement did a lot for our family,” said son Eric Silva. “We returned it with the same love and affection.” Julianna will also be remembered for constantly being there for her family. “She was always teaching me, and she lived for her grandchildren,” Eric added. “They were her world.”
Juliana Uranday-Osorno is survived by brothers Tony and David Uranday; son Eric Silva and his wife Whitney; and grandchildren Brianna, Elias, Kingsley, Stevie and Zayden.
Services are set for 1 p.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 1015 Clinton Street, Delano 93215, followed by internment at North Kern Cemetery. A reception will be held at the Forty Acres.
