La Casa del Pan on Milwaukee's south side making over 1,000 Day of the Dead loaves of bread

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A south side Mexican Bakery, La Casa del Pan, has been hard at work taking down orders for their beloved Oaxacan style pan de muerto (bread of the dead) for Day of the Dead celebrations.

Brothers Heladio and Efren Garcia have been up since the early morning hours kneading, baking and decorating their bread of the dead, making over 1,000 loaves since last Thursday.

"We had people visiting from Chicago, from Madison, Racine, and of course Milwaukee," said Heladio Garcia.

The bread of the dead is used in alters and get-togethers during Day of the Dead festivities, which start Nov.1 and end Nov. 2.

Garcia said their designs and details on the bread were inspired by patterns from their home region in Oaxaca.

"If you go to my town, or Mitla, there's so many pyramids with this kind of design," said Garcia.

La Casa del Pan is an Oaxacan owned bakery, meaning their breads use less sugar and organic ingredients.

The Garcias said they hope their bakery and baked goods bring a sense of home for many in Milwaukee.