Family of ‘Tamale Lady’ Virginia Ramos Announces Vigil, Fundraiser

Daughters of Virginia Ramos, who was known to many late night revelers as the Tamale Lady for her life-giving visits to Mission District bars, will hold a vigil for their late mother on Tuesday, October 9th. They’ve also started a fundraiser campaign on gofundme — with a $25,000 goal — presumably for funeral expenses, though no specifics are given.

Friends and family we know that The Tamale Lady has touched many lives and everyone would like help honor her. The Vigil will be from 4-7pm with the rosary at 7pm on Tuesday October 9th at Duggan’s on 17th Street.The Funeral Service will be at Mission Dolores Church Wednesday October 10 at 11am.

Ramos died last week: Her daughters reveal she suffered from a heart problem. She was 65 years old.

The street food vendor was known for her kindness as well as her food: “Her love of people manifested itself through her delicious tamales,” former Mission District supervisor David Campos told Eater.

IndieGoGo

With Campos, Ramos once launched a fundraiser for a brick-and-mortar location for herself. That effort was, in part, a response to a brief shutdown due to city regulations, a dark period during which Ramos was banned from bars like Zeitgeist.

Ramos didn’t live to see her shop open, but in decades of roving the Mission, she delighted many friends and customers. An outpouring of sadness followed news of her death, with many remembering her by her endearing phrase, “I don’t know you, but I love you, honey.”

• San Francisco’s Tamale Lady Has Died [ESF]
• gofundme [official]