News
Celebrating Día de los Muertos with Sierra Donor Services
November 4, 2025
“Give my Heart,” by artist Sean Wells, symbolizes the ongoing legacy of love made possible by organ donation.
Every fall, families across Northern California and beyond gather to celebrate Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a vibrant and deeply meaningful tradition rooted in Mexican and Hispanic culture. It’s a time to honor the lives of loved ones who have passed, to remember their stories, and to celebrate the love and joy they brought into our lives.
At Sierra Donor Services, this season holds a special place in our hearts. Like the marigolds that guide spirits home, organ, eye and tissue donors illuminate the path of life for others. Each donor hero leaves behind a legacy of hope, a gift that continues to live on in the hearts and bodies of those they have saved.
“Our senorita presents a rose as a symbol of her heart which she generously gifts – saving a life. Flowers growing lushly in her rib cage represent her organs. A playful Alebrije symbolizes the transference of life in donating an organ – that you live on in a new form.”
– Sean Wells, artist
The Beauty of Remembering
During Día de los Muertos, families build ofrendas, or altars, adorned with photos, candles, sugar skulls, and the favorite foods of their loved ones. These altars are not about mourning; they are about celebrating life and memory.
In that same spirit, we honor our donor heroes and their families. Every gift of life tells a powerful story of generosity and connection. Each donor becomes part of a larger tapestry of compassion that strengthens our community.
Sierra Donor Services honors all who give the gift of life. We are grateful for the courage, generosity, and spirit of every donor and their family, today and always.
About Sierra Donor Services
Sierra Donor Services (SDS) serves nearly three million people in Northern California and Northern Nevada. We are an exceptional team of professionals dedicated to saving and improving lives by connecting organ and tissue donation to the patients who need them. We strive to extend the reach of each generous donor’s gift to those who are always profoundly grateful for them.