Funeral directors' association: High demand for cremations
The funeral culture in Hesse has changed in recent decades, according to the funeral directors' association. "Funerals have become more individual, the church has lost some of its influence on funeral services," says Guido Vaupel, Vice Chairman of the Hessian Funeral Directors' Association. The ceremonies have become more relaxed. And black is no longer necessarily worn. "People no longer mourn over their clothes."
The funeral director, who has been working in his family business in Marburg for around 40 years, has also observed a change in funeral arrangements. There are significantly fewer coffin burials and more cremations than in the past. According to the Federal Association of German Funeral Directors, more than 70 percent of all burials are now based on cremation, meaning the ashes are then buried in an urn - or a tree or sea burial takes place. Vaupel estimates that the cremation rate at his company is now as high as 90 percent. In contrast, experience shows that demand is lower in rural regions.
There are many reasons for this change in funeral culture. Family members, such as children or grandchildren, often no longer live in the same place, which makes grave care more difficult, says the expert. In addition, burials usually have to take place within a few days according to the law. With an urn burial, on the other hand, there is much more time due to the cremation and the relatives are freer in arranging the date. There are also financial reasons: For example, the long-term total costs of coffin burials are often higher than for cremations. "Today, people have to look more at the money because everything has become expensive."
There will be a new option for urn burials in Frankfurt from the end of next year: An urn burial church is being built in the St. Michael funeral church in the Nordend district. According to the diocese of Limburg, it will be the first in Hesse. The church, which was built in 1954, will have space for 2,500 urns. So far, there are urn churches in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia, among others.
In light of this shift, some mourners might choose to honor their deceased in church while also opting for cremation, blending faith and modern funeral customs. Despite the increasing popularity of cremations, there still seem to be demands for traditional burial methods in rural areas.
Source: www.dpa.com
