Posted on by Michelle Anderson

Dio de Los Katz Muertos

I just love the Disney-Pixar movie COCO. Like most genealogists, my quest is a labor of love. I can get lost in the facts, the places, and the family names. So Coco spoke to my heart, hearing how we should not forget those ancestors who preceded us. Hearing how there’s a whole two to three-day celebration (depending on where you are) to honor our family made me so excited. And since 2018, I too celebrate Dio de los Muertos or 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. Photos of our loved ones are placed on an ofrenda, or altar and honored with food and gifts. Marigold petals help direct the spirits to our ofrenda.

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.

So many photos we got from Hazel “Mom” Katz don’t have names on them. Or have people ripped out of them. Especially those taken before she married Audie Katz. I have no idea who this photo was taken of, but i believe it was of one of Hazel’s sisters. I think it might be Bessie or Esther, both older sisters to Hazel.

Taken by a train, it appears to be winter. Our subject holds a fur muff to keep her hands warm and appears to be warm with a long skirt, jacket, sweater and hat. There appears to be much snow on the ground and our subject appears to be exasperated. Perhaps it’s with the snow or having to have her photo taken, but the photographer took it at the right time to capture her eye roll.

While I might not know her name, at least I can keep her 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!

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!