NILES, Ill. — It would have been Lola Muñoz’s 20th birthday, yet for her family she remains forever 13. Since Lola’s death, the Muñoz kids take the day off of school on her birthday. “We’re missing something when we don’t talk to children about death and the reality that it can happen anytime,” said Melissa, Lola’s mother. When another student asked why he wasn’t at school on Lola’s birthday, Ellis said he had gone to visit his sister’s grave site. … I knew that these mothers understood.”A birthday mealAfter breakfast on Lola’s birthday on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, the family goes to a basketball game at Izel’s school.

Source: Washington Post March 29, 2026 09:01 UTC