The 58 mortuary cells are still almost all occupied.
The bodies of the deceased continue to come and go, taken care of by eight agents who work to take care of them, to present them, possibly, one last time to their loved ones.
“Auteuil”, “Luxembourg”, “Concorde”, “Tuileries”… Some of the ten funeral parlors at the Batignolles funeral home are still mobilized.
However, everything will change in the establishment of Boulevard du Bois-le-Prêtre (17th century), literally under the ring road, between Porte de Clichy and Porte de Saint-Ouen.
Since Friday March 1, its management has fallen to the local public company (SPL) of Paris town hall.
A sign stamped “Ville de Paris”, installed at the entrance, is the only symbol of this change of occupant.
For now.
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Because with the recovery of this service, the City intends to become a major player in the funeral sector and fight against large private groups - including one of the giants of the sector, which until then had the management of the two Parisian funeral homes.
With an all-inclusive price of 620 euros, the SPL claims to be 200 euros cheaper than its Parisian competitor to the point of making it, it boasts, “the most affordable funeral home in the inner suburbs”.
The possibility of worshiping 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Thanks to 400,000 euros of investment, eleven months of work and development have just started in order to modernize the place, make it more “welcoming” and offer new services.
By the end of the year, relatives of the deceased will be able to gather 24 hours a day, seven days a week using an access code system.
“A waiting room will be created so that the relatives of the deceased no longer wait outside before the ceremonies,” shows Adrien Joret, the deputy general director of the funeral home.
Masters of ceremonies, taking advantage of a new audio and video system, will also be available.
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Because the SPL, which already manages the Antony funeral chamber (Hauts-de-Seine), intends to respond to the needs identified thanks to this experience.
“We will be able to organize open coffin ceremonies requested by the Orthodox,” indicates Catherine Grosvalet, director of operations.
Numerous plants and wooden cladding should make the City of Paris funeral home as “welcoming” as possible (architect’s view).
City of Paris/M L’Atelier
In five years, the municipal funeral home expects to handle more than 8,300 deaths.
The exterior of the site must be largely planted with more than 150 trees, shrubs and climbing plants, and covered with wooden cladding to, once again, ease the pain of the bereaved families as much as possible.
“For all these services, apart from hospital funeral rooms, there was strong demand from users,” says Pénélope Komites, president of the SPL.
The place will also be equipped with electric charging stations, PMR access (people with reduced mobility) and bicycle parking.
After all, it is now known as Ville de Paris.