For María Guacimara Díaz and her mother, María Asunción Núñez, visiting the cemetery is about more than putting flowers on a grave. It’s a family tradition that has been passed down through generations.
The two women, who live in Añaza, regularly visit the cemetery in Santa Cruz to remember relatives, including members of María Guacimara’s late husband’s family.
At 38, María Guacimara is still coming to terms with the loss of her husband, who died three years ago. She keeps his ashes at home, finding comfort in having him close. Their two children understand this and know that, even though their father is no longer here, his memory remains part of family life.
Her mother, María Asunción, 59, has also experienced a great deal of loss. Her sister died 31 years ago in circumstances linked to drug use, something the family has never forgotten.
There is another connection across the generations. Their grandmother, who lives in Gran Canaria, has asked them to make sure flowers are laid on her granddaughter’s grave.
It’s a small request, but one that says a lot about how families remember those they’ve lost.
Both women find strength in supporting each other and keeping these visits going. Whether through flowers at the cemetery or keeping ashes at home, they have their own ways of maintaining that connection.
For them, it’s not really about how someone is remembered. It’s about making sure they aren’t forgotten.