Tucson community honors fallen loved ones

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Members of the Tucson community gathered over the weekend of Friday, November 1st to remember the loved ones they have lost.

The 35th annual All Souls procession kicked off its three-day celebration with a Dance of the Dead concert at the MSA Annex.

“When we come here, we remember all these people,” said participant Lupe Natividad.

Over the years, the event has grown and evolved, but one central pillar has remained – the holiday provides a safe place for family and friends to come together and remember their loved ones.

“I think it’s important, it’s kind of part of the grieving process,” Natividad said. “And it really helps us, helps us move on with our lives and at the same time be able to honor them.”

Natividad has been present at the All Souls Procession for almost 15 years, sometimes participating in the parade.

She came to see the altars set up around the venue and considers it an important part of the celebration. She said she sets up a personal altar in her home for a couple of months every year to preserve the memories of her loved ones.

This event is also crucial for Mabel Ramirez-Trillo.

“We come because we want to honor the family members of friends that we have lost – for me, my parents in the last year,” Ramirez-Trillo. said. “So it’s respecting their spirit, you know how they raised us as a family, that’s so important these days.”

While the holiday is not devoid of joy, Natividad believes that being able to face one’s grief, whether it’s decades-old or new, is the most healing part of the experience.

“Sometimes we wear pictures of them and dress up. And we also feel grief,” Natividad said. “It’s a time to feel sadness and a time to feel like you’re connecting with all the members of your family who have gone before you.”