For many Latinos, virus deaths loom over Day of the Dead

Sebastian Diaz Aguirre places incense in a Day of the Dead altar dedicated to his father, who died in a nursing home in Mexico last month, Wednesday , Oct. 28, 2020 in the Brooklyn borough of New York “It feels extremely comforting. I do feel I have a connection with my dad,” said Diaz Aguirre, who set up his first ofrenda, or altar, since moving to the U.S. eight years ago.

A Day of the Dead altar decorated with photographs, candles, marigolds and favorite items and foods sits in Sebastian Diaz Aguirre’s living room in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. “It feels extremely comforting. I do feel I have a connection with my dad,” said Diaz Aguirre, who set up the altar in remembrance of his father.

Ofelia Esparza, 88, from East Los Angeles, brings fresh marigolds, often called “flowers of the dead,” for her annual Community Altar for the Day of the Dead, titled “2020 Memorial to Our Resilience,” at Grand Park in Los Angeles on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020.

Sebastian Diaz Aguirre steadies a candle in an altar dedicated to his father, who died in a nursing home in Mexico last month, for Day of the Dead in his home in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. “He didn’t die of COVID, but me and my brother said the same exact thing, that it was the pandemic that killed him,” said Diaz Aguirre.

A photograph of Jose Diaz in his 20’s sits next to coffee and pan de muerto, two of his favorite things to consume, in a Day of the Dead altar created by his son, Sebastian Diaz Aguirre in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. “I realized this year in a very special way how important my Mexican roots and this tradition was to me because it has been so comforting,” said Diaz Aguirre, who set up his first ofrenda, or altar, since moving to the U.S. eight years ago.

In New York, a son creates an altar for Day of the Dead, the annual Mexican tradition of honoring the dearly departed, to help cope with the recent death of his father and connect with his Mexican roots.

Ofelia Esparza, 88, from East Los Angles, has brough fresh marigolds, often called “flowers of the dead,” and placed them next to pictures of family members who died in 2020, at an altar for Day of the Dead, titled “2020 Memorial to Our Resilience,” at Grand Park in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, the annual Mexican tradition of reminiscing about departed loved ones with colorful altars, or ofrendas, is typically celebrated Sunday through Monday. It will undoubtedly be harder for Latino families in the U.S. torn apart by the coronavirus.

People look at a community altar decorated with marigolds, sometimes called “flowers of the dead,” place for Day of the Dead, titled “2020 Memorial to Our Resilience,” at Grand Park in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. Mother and daughter Chicana artists Ofelia and Rosanna Esparza have overseen the design of an altar at Grand Park since 2013. It’s one of 11 huge altars done in a collaboration between Grand Park and Self Help Graphics, an organization highlighting Chicano and Latino artists and social justice.

People look at a community altar decorated with marigolds, sometimes called “flowers of the dead,” at Grand Park in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. Mother and daughter Chicana artists Ofelia and Rosanna Esparza have overseen the design of the altar at Grand Park since 2013. It’s one of 11 huge altars done in a collaboration between Grand Park and Self Help Graphics, an organization highlighting Chicano and Latino artists and social justice.

Artist and altar maker Ofelia Esparza, 88, from East Los Angeles, brings fresh marigolds for her community altar for Day of the Dead, titled “2020 Memorial to Our Resilience,” at Grand Park in Los Angeles, Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, the annual Mexican tradition of reminiscing about departed loved ones with colorful altars, or ofrendas, is typically celebrated Sunday through Monday. It will undoubtedly be harder for Latino families in the U.S. torn apart by the coronavirus.

Ofelia Esparza, 88, with her daughter, Rosanna Esparza Ahrens, left, from East Los Angeles, stand Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, by their community altar titled “2020 Memorial to Our Resilience,” for Day of the Dead at Grand Park in Los Angeles. The mother and daughter Chicana artists have overseen the design of an altar at Grand Park since 2013. It’s one of 11 huge altars done in a collaboration between Grand Park and Self Help Graphics, an organization highlighting Chicano and Latino artists and social justice.

Artist Rosanna Esparza Ahrens shows digital artwork by fellow artist Gary Baseman, next to a picture of his late Blackie the Cat Baseman set at an altar for Day of the Dead, titled “2020 Memorial to Our Resilience,” at Grand Park in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020. Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, the annual Mexican tradition of reminiscing about departed loved ones with colorful altars, or ofrendas, is typically celebrated Sunday through Monday.

Fresh marigolds, often called “flowers of the dead,” sit next to a picture of late Los Angeles Lakers’ basketball player Kobe Bryant left by members of the community, at an altar for Day of the Dead, titled “2020 Memorial to Our Resilience,” by artist Ofelia Esparza and her family at Grand Park in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020.

Ofelia Esparza, 88, from East Los Angeles, arranges fresh marigolds, often called “flowers of the dead,” by a picture of late Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant left by members of the community, at an altar for Day of the Dead, titled “2020 Memorial to Our Resilience,” at Grand Park in Los Angeles, on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020.

By TERRY TANG Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) — Matilde Gomez wants her mother, Gume, to know how much she appreciates her love and sacrifices. So, she’s putting her feelings into a letter.

Only Gume Salazar will never get to read it.

Instead, it’s going on a table in Gomez’s home in Arizona that’s dedicated to her mother, who died of COVID-19. It will sit alongside fresh flowers and Salazar’s blouse on Day of the Dead, a holiday that Salazar actually didn’t care for much.

“I would think she would be OK with it,” Gomez said. “She would see this as a way for me to heal.”

Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, the annual Mexican tradition of reminiscing about departed loved ones with colorful altars, or ofrendas, is typically celebrated Nov. 1-2. It will undoubtedly be harder for Latino families in the U.S. torn apart by the coronavirus. Some are mourning more than one relative, underscoring the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on communities of color. Adding to the misery, people can’t gather for the holiday because of the health risks.

Gomez’s mother and uncle died of the virus a month apart this summer. The siblings in their 50s had no underlying health conditions. Gomez only spoke to her mother on the phone once before she died in a California hospital. On top of that, Gomez, 41, was diagnosed with breast cancer this month. She decided not to schedule surgery until after Day of the Dead because she wanted to honor her mother properly.