The city of Unterschleißheim is sticking to the new system: surviving dependents still have free choice of the undertaker.
Unterschleißheim
- At the municipal cemeteries in Unterschleißheim, relatives can still commission undertakers of their choice for a burial.
The system has proven itself.
A year ago, on April 1, 2020, a new era began at the Waldfriedhof and the Lohhofer Friedhof when the previous funeral contracts expired and could not be re-awarded.
Not a single applicant had answered.
Thereupon the city council and the city administration decided to open the cemeteries to all undertakers.
In one year, the city administration has had mostly positive experiences, as it informed the main committee.
There was not a single complaint.
In the past year 189 burials were carried out, in 89 percent of the families of the deceased hired local undertakers.
From the relatives' point of view, it is to be welcomed that all burial tasks are carried out by a company.
In the past, there was sometimes irritation when the relatives found that two different companies were involved and a representative from the city took care of cleaning, locking and posting, then some would have complained to the cemetery administration.
Administration effort increases
For the city's employees, however, the new regulation means more work.
"Tasks that used to run over the undertaker's table are now handled by the city administration," from making appointments, placing the grave, marking the grave, and cleaning the hall.
The administration also does the posting of current deaths.
The employees let us know that the extra work was to be expected and that it would work out.
The administration does not have any information as to whether the prices for the funerals have risen.
It can be assumed, however, because the funeral contract that had expired was from 2012.
However, the relatives now have the opportunity to obtain and compare offers themselves.
More news from Unterschleißheim and the district of Munich can be found here.