Ifalna

Ifalna (イファルナ, Ifaruna) is one of the last remaining Cetra and the mother of Aeris Gainborough in Final Fantasy VII.

Story
Between 24-28 years ago Professor Gast Faremis sets out on pilgrimage searching for information on Jenova and the Cetra, otherwise known as the Ancients. At some point he meets Ifalna, one of the very last Cetra, and takes her to Icicle Inn on the Northern Continent for further study.

Ifalna entrusts her knowledge of Cetra, WEAPONs, and Jenova, also known as the "Calamity from the Sky" to Gast, who tapes these conversations. (Cloud can easily find these tapes on reaching the house.)

After a short period of time they fall in love and conceive a daughter, unbeknown to the Shinra Corporation. They remain hidden for the duration of the pregnancy, and Gast names his beautiful daughter Aerith. However, just 20 days after Aerith's birth, Professor Hojo locates the family and demands that Gast hand over Ifalna and their daughter. When Gast resists, he is shot dead by Hojo's henchmen and the two Cetra are relocated to a Shinra lab.

The pair are held prisoner for about 7 years, during which time Ifalna gives two things to Aerith: first is the White Materia and second is the knowledge of how to use it to summon Holy.

Ifalna manages to escape eventually, but is mortally wounded in the process. On the steps of Midgar station, she entrusts Aerith to a nearby woman, the recent widow Elmyra Gainsborough and then dies of her injuries.

Trivia

 * Ifalna is mentioned by name in Crisis Core. A scientist found within the Shinra Building laments her death, and is discovered to be working against Shinra. She is then arrested by Kunsel.