Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Dio de Los Kramer Muertos

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!

Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Dio de Los Wenke Muertos

I love the Disney-Pixar movie COCO. If you have never watched it, it’s about a boy named Miguel who lives in a family who doesn’t allow music to be played. And all Miguel wants to do is become a guitar player and singer as successful as his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. On the way to a music competition, MIguel gets swept into the land of the dead on Dio de los Muertos, or day of the dead. While there Miguel learns how important it is not to forget those family members who came before us. If person is forgotten then they disappear from the land of the dead and are gone forever. One of the way Miguel’s family keeps those ancestors memories alive is by placing them on an “ofrenda” as a way of tribute. This movie was made for me! it speaks to my soul.

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.

Marigold petals help direct the spirits to their family ofrenda. The spirits receive food and gifts that have been placed on the ofrenda in their honor.

Since seeing Coco in 2018, I’ve wanted to have an offrenda and honor my ancestors too! 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.

Here we have a family member from a photo album in which there were a lot of Wenke family members in it. This photo I felt needed to be used as we don’t know his name. There was nothing written on the back or front of this photo and we are left to assuming he is someone related to the Wenke’s.

The young man appears to be at the start of his adult life. In his Sunday best, all clean with his hair trimmed with bright eyes that look patient and ready for what awaits him. I love his jacket and waistcoat. The tiny plaid appears to be made out of wool and in the style of the 1880’s to early 1890’s. I just love his tie and pocket watch. Many photos in the photo album were taken by Max Erler at the Sunbeam Gallery in Peoria along with this one. I wish that we could get subject information from the photographer, but alas, that is not an option.

While I might not know his name at least i can keep his memory alive here on my digital ofrenda which is dedicated to keeping all the memories of our family members alive. May you have a Feliz Dia de los Muertos or Happy Day of the Dead! Que iva la memoria de nuestros seres queridos! Long live the memory of our loved ones!