As of: March 22, 2024, 2:58 p.m
By: Lukas Schierlinger
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Mia Fleischer started her own business as an undertaker in Munich.
When organizing funeral services, the 21-year-old does not shy away from unconventional measures.
Munich – At parties it usually doesn't take long before Mia Fleischer's job becomes a topic.
“Do you actually know what she does?” they say.
The 21-year-old works as a undertaker.
Fleischer became self-employed with her business in Lehel in April 2023.
She doesn't mind being harassed at parties.
“It's simply a job that many people have little contact with.
Most people react really coolly.”
Mia (21) works as an undertaker: “You should have basic optimism”
“And do you really work with dead people?” That is often the very first question.
Fleischer, who originally comes from Aschaffenburg, was thrown into the deep end at the age of 14.
During an internship during secondary school.
“Like many others of that age, I didn’t really know what to do with myself.” Her mother said as a joke: “Then go to the undertaker.” She saw the first person who died on the first day of her internship.
“I had imagined all the horror scenarios.
In the end it wasn’t bad at all.”
Fleischer remembers that she immediately perceived the work with the relatives as meaningful.
“I came home totally happy, even though I was faced with death and sadness.
Simply because I could help.” Further internships followed during the school holidays.
With several years of professional experience, Fleischer concludes: “You should have basic optimism if you want to do the job.” The desire to one day become self-employed as an undertaker grew as a result of a personal stroke of fate.
Fleischer's father died as a result of a serious illness when she was only 17. “Through my internships, I was able to understand much better what was happening.
And I saw some things that I wanted to do completely differently.”
Undertaker wants funeral ceremonies that match the character of the deceased: “We’ve even poured beer into the grave”
Planning your farewell early can be liberating for your relatives, says the 21-year-old.
“It's a good feeling when they know what to do when you leave.” Fleischer also thinks back to her father's death.
“I would have wished that he had had contact with the undertaker beforehand.
Then we could have clarified what would have been particularly important to him personally.”
Mia Fleischer (21) says about her work: “I think that customers appreciate it when their contact person is always the same.” © Matthias Garvelmann/Imago/Sylvio Dittrich
A funeral service must be contemporary and fit the character of the deceased, says Fleischer, summarizing her most important concern.
She wanted to give relatives the opportunity to “involve themselves to the desired extent.”
“We celebrate an entire life,” says the 21-year-old.
Things can get unconventional at times.
“We’ve even poured beer into the grave.” She still gets goosebumps when she thinks back to a biker’s funeral.
“His buddies formed a line with their machines in front of the cemetery.
That was impressive.”
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Saying goodbye to children is particularly difficult for 21-year-olds
Every funeral or memorial service is special in itself, explains Fleischer.
“The fates are always different.
And everyone has their own way of grieving.” The 21-year-old admits that saying goodbye to children is particularly difficult for her.
“That’s another number.”
No worries about young talent, but there is still a lack of skilled workers:
“Fortunately, the recruitment of young talent is very good in our small niche industry.
Our training center in Münnerstadt is bursting at the seams,” writes Jörg Freudensprung, branch manager at the Bavarian Undertaker Association, when asked.
There is still a shortage of skilled workers.
“But this is mainly due to the fact that only relatively few undertakers can train, as a large number are small and very small businesses with two or three employees.”
Death and grief continue to be taboo topics in society, says Fleischer.
Especially in the somewhat more conservative Munich.
She can only support the fact that her colleague Luis Bauer reports on his everyday life as an undertaker in entertaining TikTok videos.
"That's great.
He helps us bring the topic to light and polish up the somewhat dusty image of the profession.”
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