Born in San Francisco to Mexican immigrant parents, Irma Rose Ferrer grew up in the Mission District and later moved with her parents and three siblings to Santa Rosa where she worked in her family’s Mexican restaurant while completing school at Santa Rosa Junior College. She married Juan Ferrer, an immigrant from Mexico City, a Marine and self-made man. They moved to San Rafael where she raised her four children and ran a successful plumbing business.

In 1988, after a two-year battle, she died at the age of 54, of stomach cancer. Irma was the matriarch of her family. She loved to host holiday gatherings and opened her home to anyone who needed a place to stay. Irma was an indomitable spirit for her family and the community; a model of charity. Her volunteer work included leading the school parent group, fundraising for Catholic Charities, making candy for the church bazaar and serving on numerous non-profit boards.

Irma was also involved in every aspect of her children’s lives. She believed in getting things done. She was always a proponent of “charity beginning at home” or making sure you take care of family first and then your friends and community. She had a deep religious faith and lived by those principles in all aspects of her life. Her faith, family and resources sustained her as she battled cancer.

This fellowship supports her concern for those battling cancer who have less resources and therefore, it is dedicated to providing comprehensive support to other Latinas in their fight against cancer.