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Altar for Rosita Fernandez at La Mansion Del Rio for Dia de los Muertos
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October 27, 2009 · The traditional holiday honoring family and friends who have died will be observed this Sunday and Monday. On Sunday it’s All Souls Day and on Monday it’s Dia de los Muertos.
The tradition involves honoring those who have passed on by creating altars to remember them. The altars usually include sugar skulls, marigolds and favorite items of the deceased.
One San Antonio hotel has been carrying on this tradition for at least ten years. That hotel is the Omni La Mansion del Rio, located along the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio.
Rusty Wallace is the General Manager of the Omni La Mansion del Rio and he spoke with Texas Public Radio's Erine Villarreal.
Omni La Mansion del Rio is celebrating the Dia de los Muertos with an altar honoring San Antonio's "First Lady of Song," Rosita Fernandez.
Rosita was born in Monterrey, Mexico until 1924 when her family migrated to Laredo, Texas. When she was nine years old her family settled in San Antonio.
She performed publicly for more than 60 years. It was Lady Bird Johnson who bestowed upon Rosita the name "The First Lady of Song".
Rosita is quoted as saying "I sang for a simple reason, God gave me a voice that is pleasant to hear and I want to share it."
Rosita Fernandez passed away in 2007 at the age of 88.
The Omni La Mansion del Rio has been creating Day of the Dead altars for at least 10 years. The altar is located in the entrance to the hotel's restaurant Las Canarias. |
