About Us
Our Board of Directors
President: Mark W. Putnam
Vice President: Susan Koen
Executive Director: Gina Giampaoli
Treasurer: Marthe Specht Fraser
Directors:
Diana Ekizian
Susan Koen
Steven Moe
Willa Kligerman Moe
Patricia Frey
Our History
The 24 Hour Association was formed in 1965 by a committee of year round San Miguel de Allende residents. Initially, members were interred in the general cemetery with local residents. In 1973, the city expanded the cemetery and granted the 24 Hour Association approximately 1,000 square meters of land for its own plot. In turn, we paid $30,000 pesos for improvements, including the brick wall encompassing the entire expansion.
At the same time, Stirling Dickinson and Florence Howard created the original plan for the 24 Hour Association plot. The Board determined that, “The 24 Hour plot shall conform to a general overall plan, rather than specific and individual.”
The Association has partnered with the same funeral home since it first began. Inhumaciones Lopez is a well-established family business and has been an operating funeral home in San Miguel since 1945.
The 24 Hour Association became a Mexican nonprofit organization in 1999. Also that year, a comprehensive plot renovation was begun and today, the expat and Mexican communities enjoy our quiet oasis.
The name of the Association comes from the time when Mexican law required burials within 24 hours of death.