A model portraying La Catrina, left, poses near Lucy Massey during  her presentation on Día de los Muertos at Aunt Matilda’s Wake, hosted by the Sachse Historical Society Saturday, Oct. 24. Shelley Dowdle./The Sachse News

Under a nearly full moon, Sachse Cemetery became the setting for an evening of mystery, mischief and a little history Saturday, Oct. 24, as the Sachse Historical Society hosted Aunt Matilda’s Wake.

The Halloween-themed event combined theatrical storytelling with a presentation on Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, giving visitors a glimpse into funeral traditions and the lighter side of mourning.

The evening began at the Sachse Museum, where guests enjoyed a meal before making their way to the cemetery. Attendees were encouraged to dress in Victorian mourning attire, period clothing or Halloween costumes.

Among those embracing the theme were Eugene Hauptmann, dressed in Civil War-era clothing, and his granddaughter, Chelsie Hargis, and great-granddaughter, Delilah Bartlett, who wore black. Bartlett completed her outfit with a traditional-style bonnet.

Former Sachse Mayor Mike Felix, dressed as an undertaker, mingled with guests before the historical society’s vice president, Rebekah McDonough, led them from the museum to the cemetery’s committal shelter for the evening’s main attraction.

There, members of the North Texas Civilian Historians joined local participants Ed Brown, the historical society’s secretary, and Matina Newsom, a senior librarian at Sachse Public Library, to bring the fictional Aunt Matilda’s questionable reputation to life.

The roughly 16-minute performance featured bickering mourners, accusations over a poorly constructed casket and speculation about hidden gold coins that might attract notorious outlaw John Wesley Hardin.

Brown portrayed a hardware store owner with a soft spot for Matilda, while Newsom defended the deceased against those who spoke ill of her.

But Aunt Matilda wasn’t about to let others have the last word. Fed up with the arguing, she rose from the dead to voice her displeasure with her funeral arrangements.

Following the performance, McDonough guided visitors to one of the cemetery’s columbaria, where Lucy Massey presented information about Día de los Muertos and its cultural and religious traditions.

Massey, originally from Mexico, explained the symbolism of skulls and La Catrina, an elegantly dressed skeletal figure representing the idea that death comes for everyone, regardless of wealth or social standing. She also discussed the importance of remembering deceased loved ones and praying for them.

The evening’s storytelling continued as guests returned toward the museum, encountering two soldiers whose conversation revealed more about Matilda’s colorful past.

Their exchange brought the fictional tale full circle, leaving visitors to draw their own conclusions about Aunt Matilda’s reputation.

Stay informed, and support your local community newspaper, subscribe to The Sachse News