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Suburbs celebrate Day of the Dead

A table draped in yellow was roped off Sunday in a section of the Arlington Heights Memorial Library.

Though graced with a variety of decorations - candles, pumpkins, a vase of flowers and even gloves - one special photo stood out.

Brought by a member of the Friends of the Library, the photo served as part of an altar, known as an ofrenda, used in the library's celebration of Día de los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead.

"She said it was her parents' wedding picture. It's really beautiful," said Sydney Jarol, a program assistant at the library, which hosted one of the several suburban Day of the Dead celebrations Sunday.

Jennifer Czajka, library program supervisor, said the event grew out of the library's involvement in Arlington Heights' "One Book, One Village" program, and this year's selection "The Book of Unknown Americans," by Cristina Henriquez.

"It's a great time to expose the community to something that is important to a lot of people living here already," she said.

The library celebrated with food, crafts and face painting, and much of the event incorporated the symbolism associated with the holiday, such as skulls. The library also arranged for a Mexican bakery to provide visitors with pan de muerto (the bread of the dead).

In Aurora, Day of the Dead was celebrated with visitors leaving offerings at a table used as a makeshift altar. Among the items left were skeleton dolls and skulls. a vintage framed group portrait, jewelry, toys and burning wood chips.

A few people had their faces painted with traditional skull images.

Michelle Farfan of Dundee, a teacher who painted half her face, took photographs and video using her phone to share the experience with her students.

"It's interesting and I want them to know what it's about," she said.

In Arlington Heights, adults and children lined up to have their faces painted by Anna Todaro, while in the Hub, the library's teen center, volunteer Lily Croke fashioned paper marigolds with patrons, while others applied paint to tiny skulls.

"(The Day of the Dead) doesn't have a heavy quality to it. It's got more of a whimsy and is more pleasant and social, as opposed to sorrowful," said Lou Cella of Arlington Heights.

Linda Schober, an art teacher at Hoffman School in Glenview, explained the celebration with the help of slides.

"It's actually a real happy, joyous celebration in Mexico," she said. "It's not necessarily sad and scary, as we celebrate Halloween. It's to celebrate the afterlife."

  Michelle Farfan of Dundee and Hector Mendoza of Hoffman Estates painted their faces in downtown Aurora during Day of the Dead celebrations Sunday. Farfan, a teacher, took photos and video of the event to share with her students. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Visitors look at the offerings on an altar in downtown Aurora during Day of the Dead celebrations Sunday. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
  Lou Cella of Arlington Heights and his daughter, Ondine, share skull cookies at the Day of the Dead celebration Sunday at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. Steve Zalusky/szalusky@dailyherald.com
  Laura Morrow, right, and her daughter Sarah Morrow paint skulls at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library's Day of the Dead celebration. Steve Zalusky/szalusky@dailyherald.com
  Anna Todaro paints a lily on Marygrace Townsend of Arlington Heights during Sunday's Day of the Dead celebration at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. Steve Zalusky/szalusky@dailyherald.com
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