Wayland resident Ingrid Palacios, Multicultural Outreach program manager for New England Donor Services, helped organize a bilingual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) remembrance program on Nov. 1, at the ICA Watershed in East Boston. The event honored the lives of organ and tissue donors and celebrated the hope they bring to others through the gift of life.
Palacios led the creation of a colorful altar, or ofrenda, featuring photographs, candles, and marigolds dedicated to “donor heroes” — individuals whose organs and tissues were donated to save or improve the lives of others. The program included poetry, traditional music, and personal reflections shared by recipients, family members, and physicians from Massachusetts General Hospital, Tufts, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Among those attending was Janot Mendler de Suarez of Wayland, who joined Palacios at the altar to remember her husband Pablo, one of the honorees. “This celebration connects remembrance with gratitude,” Mendler de Suarez said, noting the blending of Latin American traditions with the theme of giving life through organ donation.
The program, titled “Donor Hero Remembrance,” was held in collaboration with Done Vida New England and featured readings in English and Spanish, along with performances by local musicians and poets. Participants received small keepsakes, including hand-painted sugar skulls and cards inscribed with verses honoring donors and their families.
