Mexico: Grandma who inspired ‘Mama Coco’ character dies

THE Maria Salud Ramirez Cabagerothe woman who had been the inspiration for the character of Mama Coco in the famous film ‘Coco’, which won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2018, passed away yesterday, Sunday, the Mexican authorities announced.

“I express my deep sorrow for the death of Doña Maria Salud Ramirez Cabagero, tof “Mama Koko”, a tireless woman who was a model of life, the inspiration for this character who was adored and went around the world,” Roberto Monroy, the tourism secretary of Michoacán, the western Mexican state where he hails from, wrote on Twitter.

Donia Maria, as reported by APE-MPE, died at the age of 109, in the village where she was born, Santa Fe de la Laguna, near the touristic Lake of Pazcuaro, where the traditional “Day of the Dead” is celebrated, according to the information broadcast by the local media.

Its production Disneywhich tells the story of a boy who searches for his family history through this Mexican tradition, made Ramirez a celebrity. Tourists regularly went to her house to take pictures with this woman, whose appearance was almost identical to the character of Mama Coco, Mexican media reported.

The movie “Coco” tells the story of a little boy who embarks on an imaginary journey into the world of the dead to discover the history of his ancestors, particularly that of his great-great-grandfather, the father of Mama Coco.

“The biggest thanks to the people of Mexico. ‘Coco’ would not exist without their culture and their incredibly beautiful traditions” said the film’s director Lee Ankrich during the award ceremony.