By Yanet Castro
Staff writer
Northeast Texas Community College CARE Center and Carmen Shurtleff’s social work class is participating in dia de los muertos (Day of the Dead) November 1 and 2.
Dia de los Muertos is a 2-day Hispanic holiday that honors and remembers deceased loved ones.
“I want people to actually know the meaning,” Shurtleff said.
November 1 the CARE Center had dia de los muertos Bingo and pan de muerto with hot chocolate. Shurtleff’s social work class created an ofrenda in the Care Center where anyone is welcome to place a picture of their deceased loved one November 1st-2nd.
“I want the opportunity for students to experience and the recognition for their lost ones as well,” Shurtleff said.
On November 2 the CARE Center will host a catrina contest where students were able to create their own catrina and participate in the contest.
The CARE Center will host a special gathering November 2 at 12:30 p.m. to honor Nataly Montoya who passed away in a car accident on her way to campus on March 8, 2022. Claudia Soto, Montoya’s mother and former student of Shurtleff, took the initiative last year to start dia de los muertos at NTCC to honor and remember her daughter.
“We want to carry on her initiative,” Shurtleff said.