Locals honor loved ones at Lakewood Cemetery lantern lighting

Families gathered to remember lost loved ones at Lakewood Cemetery Sunday evening.

In an annual tradition, people decorated paper lanterns with photos, poems and memories, sharing their love for those who’ve passed. Sunday was the final evening of the weekend celebration in Minneapolis.

"It’s really important for people once in a while to remember people that they’ve lost," Chris Makowske, president of Lakewood Cemetery, said.

One man remembered his wife, Jenny.

"She was a stage four cancer patient," Robert Ellingen said. "Today actually would be her one year anniversary of her death."

The celebration started with about 600 people in attendance seven years ago. Now, it’s grown to nearly 2,000 lantern reservations.

People released their lanterns into the water as the sun set.