A visit with departed loved ones

Hundreds of families across the CNMI trooped to the islands’ cemeteries yesterday and on Tuesday to pay their respects to their departed loved ones, in the annual tradition of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

At the Chalan Kanoa cemetery, Bishop Thomas Camacho celebrated a Mass late afternoon Tuesday, with the service attended by families present at the cemetery.

The cemetery was festooned with flowers in all types of arrangements ranging from a simple spray to outlandish creations in a riot of colors. The occasion was also a chance for the families to clean up and re-paint the tombs of their departed loved ones, providing brisk trade to those in the flower, paint, and candle businesses.