By Frieda Lopez

The first time I built an ofrenda with my family was a few years ago when I was 14 years old. It all started when my parents and I were watching the movie Coco, and my dad began to talk about his memories of Día de Muertos and how they used to make an altar at his house in Mexico. 
That moment sparked something in him. He turned to ask my mom why we didn’t continue the tradition of making an altar, and he expressed his desire to bring it back to honor his father and my mom’s father.

Reconnecting Through Remembrance
That year, we created our first family altar. It was a beautiful experience to come together and build something meaningful to honor the family members who have passed, even those I never had the chance to meet.

While we placed candles and their framed photos, my parents told me stories about their fathers. I listened as they laughed and cried, memories coming to life through old photos and favorite dishes. I could see how much that moment helped them while they placed photos, candles, and their favorite foods. 
I remember when my mom placed a picture of her dad on the altar. She smiled and let out a laugh as she told us how much he loved drinking black coffee in the mornings, no milk, always strong. It was these little details that brought them closer again, even if just for a moment.

Honoring My Own Loss