Since seeing Coco in 2018, I have dreamed about someday having an ofrenda. I know not what most people want but the message in Coco about family and ancestors spoke to me and I’ve wanted to find other ways to remember and talk about those family members who came before us.

The movie Coco centers around Dios de los Muertos or, for you non-Spainish speakers, Day of the Dead. Day of the Dead is a celebration that honors our deceased loved ones and welcomes their spirits back to Earth. This holiday is celebrated in Mexico Central America and by many Mexican Americans and me here in the United States. Using a “ofrenda”, or altar, photos of loved ones are placed to honor, remember, and keep their memories alive. I want to have somewhere I can showcase our ancestors and keep their memories alive. Since this year’s Dios de los Muertos is November 2 & 3, 2024, I thought now was the time for a tribute, Dios de los Muertos style.

I don’t think this young man is related to us, but his photo was in some pictures of Kramer ancestors. This is a photograph postcard popular from the late 1890s until about 1915. You could get your photo taken usually by a traveling photographer, and they would print it on a postcard, which you could send to family members who may live far away from you.

On the back is written George Faulkner, 100 Charles, Streator in pencil. I have looked through the Streator Census’ and directories from the 1890s through 1920 and have not been able to locate George. For this reason, I felt he was a great candidate for our ofrenda. He’s looks so young with the promise of the rest of his life ahead of him. And I’m not sure, but his eye’s look almost as if he’d been fighting, one’s open and the other appears to be swollen. But they both appear to be a bright shade of blue.

While I might not know his story, I can keep his memory alive here on my digital ofenda. May you have a Feliz Dia de los Muertos or Happy Day of the Dead!