Each year on November 1, on the eve of Turama/All Souls Day, the Catholic Panama Cemetery bursts with colourful flowers, candles and fairy lights.

The cemetery was a hive of activity on Friday afternoon with families rushing to the site after work adorning the grave of their loved ones with bundles of bright everlasting flowers and sweet scented ei.

Mou Tokorangi (72), decorates the graves of her only son Benjamin, and her husband Denis each year.

Her husband passed away suddenly of a heart attack in 2013.

She said Turama is a time for her to reflect, sit and think about what might have been for her son.

“Benji my son was only 21 when he passed away in an accident, he was in the Nikao Te Maeva Nui team that time,” Mou said.

“I always feel sad on this day, but I feel that he is with me.”

John Hosking, secretary of Ministry of Transport, decorates the grave of his daughter Louisa Seraphina Roberta Hosking who sadly passed away at just two days old on 19 May, 1993.

“She would have been 31 today,” he said, while placing tiare taina ei on her grave.

For Hosking, Turama is a special time for remembering loved ones who have passed on.

Each year Fuaifale Hoeflich decorates three graves - her father David, her uncle junior, and her grandmother Salome.

“My grandmother taught us to always be here for Turama to decorate when my uncle died,” said Hoeflich.

“Now she is gone we still carry on that tradition because we respect our elders.” All Souls Day Mass at the cemetery was held at 6.30pm.