Because of the corona pandemic, many things change at funerals: They are only allowed in the closest family.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - Even during the corona crisis, people have to be buried or buried. The already sad occasion is currently a bit sad. "Of course funerals continue to take place," says Wolfratshausen city pastor Gerhard Beham. However, the mourning community had to accept various restrictions. Since services were canceled by the archdiocese until April 3, requiems are also canceled. The funeral service in the cemetery takes place outdoors. Coffins and urns are set up in front of the sanctuary. "And the relatives should say goodbye in a small group," emphasizes the pastor.
Mourning ceremony at the grave
City or village, that doesn't make a difference in this crisis. "We have been instructed to limit funerals to immediate family members," says Pastor Chummar Gracious Naralakkattukunnel from the Church of St. Nicholas in Jachenau. And he would stick to it. The same restrictions apply to the Protestant churches. “I can imagine that I'll give a little speech in front of the cemetery house. The mourning ceremony and the sermon will definitely take place at the grave, ”says Dean Martin Steinbach, head of the Evangelical Lutheran Deanery in Bad Tölz. “It is important that the relatives directly affected receive the support they need. Commemoration ceremonies for more distant family members, friends and acquaintances can also be held later if the wish arises. "
The processes in the cemetery partly dictate the administrations. "The sanctuary is closed, celebrations take place outside only," confirms Birte Otterbach, press spokeswoman in the Tölz town hall. The city has now limited the number of mourners to ten people. They are also required to keep a distance of at least 1.50 meters from each other. "People with symptoms of illness are prohibited from participating," says Otterbach. “A funeral is a very emotional thing. We can only expressly appeal to the population to act with reason and consideration. "
No microphone and no music
Geretsried is different. There, too, the “farewell at the grave is limited to ten people,” emphasizes press spokesman Thomas Loibl. The pastors point out that “a certain minimum distance must also be maintained in the cemetery, we will not enforce that.” But that is not all: “There is no holy water, no earth. Nothing should be taken that everyone would touch, ”explains Veronika Kaiser from the funeral parlor Klein. Microphones and music are also prohibited, and the whole ceremony should be over in 15 to 20 minutes if possible. There is a limited possibility to say goodbye in the Geretsried cemetery hall: in one corridor, mourners, but only two people at a time, could take a look at the coffin, which is built up behind a glass pane. Nobody gets any closer. Many of the deceased do not know whether they may have been infected.
And what about the undertaker? "There is no danger from the deceased. Nobody has to be afraid of getting infected, ”emphasizes Max Riedel. "Dealing with infections is a highly complex process for which funeral directors are trained," says the managing director of Trauerhilfe Denk. For security reasons, the body would be locked in the coffin if it was known that someone had died from the corona virus, said Riedl, who welcomed the restrictions on the part of the cities and municipalities. "This is the right way. Funerals are also about minimizing the risk of infection. ”
Also read: Neighborhood help via WhatsApp
While burials in the earth must be carried out within 96 hours, it is somewhat easier to say goodbye to larger groups when urns are buried. In theory, this allows you to take your time until the current restrictions are relaxed or lifted again.
rst
Also interesting:
Geretsried's building committee meets under the impression of the corona pandemic
Corona virus: car as a waiting room for pet owners