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PEAR BLOSSOM 2016 Family celebrates life of relative lost to cancer with Pear Blossom Parade float 'Nena' Rodriguez honored with Dia de los Meurtos-styled entry By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Apr. 9, 2016 @ 2:35 pm Updated Apr 9, 2016 at 7:15 PM By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Apr. 9, 2016 @ 2:35 pm Updated Apr 9, 2016 at 7:15 PM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Even in the crowd of color and cheer that defines Medford's annual Pear Blossom Parade, the distinctively painted faces and vibrant approach to float No. 105 demanded attention. About 15 family members in the Sanchez family painted their faces in white and black to resemble skeletons adorned with patterns and bright colors, in the fashion of the Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, holiday celebrated in Mexico. Some were local, others came from as far as Seattle, but all participated in the parade to remember Maria Elena "Nena" Rodriguez, who died in late 2014 of mesothelioma, a lung cancer with links to asbestos exposure. Chela Sanchez of Medford, who co-organizes the annual Day of the Dead Race in October, said Rodriguez was a warm, outgoing "cheerleader" who encouraged her in her endeavors. "She's always been a supporter of the different things I did," Chela Sanchez of Medford said in the float staging area. The multicolored float, with "Nena" painted on the front of the gondola and "Maria Elena" painted on the back, resembles a Trajinera boat from the Xochimilco region of Mexico, according to Sanchez. Her brother, Arturo Sanchez, was chiefly involved in the float's construction and painting, which involved several late nights. Arturo Sanchez said his cousin Alfredo Flores texted him asking for a flatbed trailer that would serve as the float's foundation. Flores directs the Day of the Dead race with Chela Sanchez. "I already had it in my mind that I'm building a parade float," Arturo Sanchez said. Arturo dressed brightly and traditionally in a turquoise shirt and a black sombrero adorned with sequins, with white and black face paint with bright pink accents. He said he likes to make "pretty things" with lots of color. Chela Sanchez said grieving the loss of a family member in Latin American cultures often focuses on celebrating the lost loved one's life rather than dwelling on the person's death. Whether on the Day of the Dead holiday or on the loved one's birthday, it's common to bring out mementos or make the person's favorite foods. "It's a nice way to commemorate that person," Chela Sanchez said. Laughter surrounded the float as family decorated it with live plants and colorful foil balloons. When the float needed to move to the staging area, Arturo cheerfully picked up and carried cousin Maria Zamano, Nena's sister, out of the float before it needed to move. Zamano had just arrived in Medford from Seattle with her husband, Juan, at 2 a.m. Saturday. Tony Sanchez, brother to Chela and Arturo, drove a red convertible on loan from Medford BMW near the float, and Tony's wife Annie, involved in Southern Oregon University's Latino Student Union, painted faces for the event. The Sanchez siblings' parents Gumaro and Avigael Sanchez were also among the marchers. "We find grace in being together," Chela Sanchez said. "When we talk to each other, it's like no time has passed," Arturo Sanchez said. Behind the laughter and joy with family near and far was much of the heartbreak that stems from loss. Chela Sanchez said Nena's death in Chicago, just a month after the 2014 Day of the Dead Race, was a surprise. Chela knew her mother couldn't make the race to be with Nena, but expected her to improve. "I always thought that she would get better," Chela Sanchez said. Juan Zamano said that where Nena and others they know grew up in Zacatecas, Mexico, wind blew dust from asbestos mines and made it to the drinking water. Homes that used the building material were common in Mexico and the US in the 1960s and 70s. Juan Zamano said the disease can take up to 40 years to develop after exposure. In spite of the heartbreak and hardship, Maria and Juan Zamano described her as a positive person and devout Catholic who faced into her illness head-on. Overall the day was much more sweet than bitter for the families marching. "My whole family's here — it's pretty rad," Chela Sanchez said. —Reach reporter Nick Morgan at 541-776-4471 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @MTCrimeBeat. By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat MailTribune.com By Nick Morgan Mail Tribune Follow @@mtcrimebeat Posted Apr. 9, 2016 @ 2:35 pm Updated Apr 9, 2016 at 7:15 PM » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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