cemetery-marigolds — Community members arrange fresh flowers on the graves of loved ones at Valley Catholic Cemetery Tuesday as part of Dia de los Muertos celebrations around Watsonville. —Tarmo Hannula/The Pajaronian

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Photos: Honoring loved ones on Day of the Dead

By: Tarmo Hannula

November 3, 2022

Michele Delibert of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education helps set up an altar at Watsonville Plaza Oct. 28 as part of the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration. Put on by Watsonville Film Festival, Parks and Community Services, the City of Watsonville, Santa Cruz County Office of Education, Hospice of Santa Cruz County and others, scores of altars were set up around the bandstand to honor the dead and share stories to continue their memories. Harbor High, Amesti Elementary School and El Nido (Cabrillo College) students put together the altar shown here.

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Daisy Nuñez and California Highway Patrol officer Israel Murillo take part in the annual Dia de los Muertos celebration at Watsonville Plaza Oct. 28.

Folklorico dancers treat people to their dance moves at the Youth Center in downtown Watsonville Tuesday evening as part of Dia de los Muertos celebrations. Put on by the City of Watsonville, Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance and Watsonville Police, the free event also included hot chocolate and traditional Mexican pan de muerto, or bread, arts and crafts, numerous altars and plenty of colorful traditional garb.

Tarmo Hannula has been the lead photographer with The Pajaronian newspaper in Watsonville since 1997. He also reports on a wide range of topics, including police, fire, environment, schools, the arts and events. A fifth generation Californian, Tarmo was born in the Mother Lode of the Sierra (Columbia) and has lived in Santa Cruz County since the late 1970s. He earned a BA from UC Santa Cruz and has traveled to 33 countries.

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