History Bites | Muñidores, Zacatecas, and The Rise of a Funeral Industry in Havana

Commercial interests dramatically transformed the business of death. In conjunction with the exhibition Dearly Departed: Mourning & Memory, Dr. Bethany Wade, Assistant Professor of History at Sacred Heart University, will present an insightful talk exploring the forgotten stories and the rise of the modern funeral industry in Havana, Cuba as a case study on the impact of the industry on the customs and rituals surrounding death. Be transported to nineteenth-century Havana, uncovering the motivations and strategies of key figures in the funeral industry. Dr. Wade will delve into the evolving role of muñidorías (funeral homes), the controversies surrounding monopolistic ambitions, and the intense competition in the industry. With vivid descriptions, she will bring to life the grandeur of funeral processions and the distinctive attire of the Zacatecas, providing a rich understanding of this transformative period. Drawing upon her extensive research, Dr. Wade will unpack the challenges faced by authorities in regulating the industry and the growing societal concerns regarding excessive luxury in funeral practices.

Free with Museum Admission. Snacks and refreshments provided. Please feel free to bring your own lunch.

About the Speaker

Bethany Wade, Ph.D., is a historian specializing in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a research focus on the history of pandemics, public health, and burial practices. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh and held postdoctoral fellowships at Rutgers University and Emory University. Dr. Wade’s current position is at Sacred Heart University, where she contributes to the field through her research and scholarly pursuits. Her forthcoming book manuscript, tentatively titled “Quarantining the Dead,” explores the history of burial in 19th-century Cuba and Puerto Rico, emphasizing the instrumental role of pandemic fatalities in shaping modern regimes of public health. The book investigates how changing physical and ritual acts surrounding the deceased facilitated a hybrid way of engaging with the world, blending religious, public health, and commercial interests. Her research contributions have been published in the Journal of Latino-Latin American Studies (JOLLAS), the journal Mortality, and the edited volume Pandemics and Epidemics in Cultural Representation.

Dearly Departed: Mourning and Memory, and its related programs, are made possible by the generous support of Oak Lawn Cemetery & Arboretum and Spear Miller Funeral Home.

Image: Los Zacatecas. Oil on canvas by Rafael Blanco. Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de Cuba. This painting, from the turn of the twentieth century, shows a funeral procession prominently featuring Zacatecas, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de Cuba.