Funeral home in Mainz plans to acquire a boat.
Rhineland-Palatinate's New Burial Law Sparks Debate Among Funeral Directors
A new burial law in Rhineland-Palatinate is causing a stir, with some funeral directors expressing concerns while others welcome the reform. The law, which may allow urns to be kept at home and river burials on the Rhine, Moselle, or Saar, is expected to further strengthen the trend of redesigning cemeteries in cities like Neuwied due to the decline in grave spaces.
Funeral director Steffen Großmann from Mainz has already taken the initiative, purchasing a boat for potential river burials in Rhineland-Palatinate. If the law is passed, his boat, capable of accommodating eight people, could be used for these services from various departure points, including Koblenz, Mainz, Ludwigshafen, and Trier.
However, not all funeral directors share the same enthusiasm. Karl Mettlach, a funeral director from Saarburg, fears financial losses for municipalities due to the law. He also expresses concern about a potential loss of cemetery culture, as urns can then be stored at home. Mettlach is not alone in his concerns, as the Funeral Directors' Association of Rhineland-Palatinate has criticized the creation of the draft law without prior involvement of funeral directors, churches, or other institutions.
The Funeral Directors' Association, however, does not see a threat to the industry despite the reform. They welcome the reform, as it allows for more individual wishes of the deceased and their relatives to be fulfilled. The association also emphasizes the need for clear guidelines from the legislator for funeral directors to reliably implement the new possibilities.
Interestingly, there has been high interest in river burials on the Saar, but little interest in river burials on the Moselle so far. Shipping companies like Kolb on the Moselle are considering cooperating with local funeral homes to offer river burials, but as of now, no specific companies in Rhineland-Palatinate have publicly announced plans to do so.
Many people have contacted Nico Schmidt from Bestattungshaus Loch in Trier to keep their urns at home. This trend suggests a growing desire for personalised funeral arrangements among the populace.
Despite the criticisms, the association considers some provisions in the current draft to be hardly feasible in practice. They are hopeful that these issues will be addressed as the law progresses through its final stages.
In conclusion, the new burial law in Rhineland-Palatinate is a significant change that is generating discussions among funeral directors and the public. While some are concerned about the potential financial and cultural implications, others see it as an opportunity to fulfil more personalised funeral wishes. As the law moves forward, it will be interesting to see how it is implemented and how it affects the funeral industry and the people of Rhineland-Palatinate.
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