Insight behind the scenes: Visiting the crematorium in Schweinfurt

Insight behind the scenes: Visiting the crematorium in Schweinfurt

Schweinfurt, Deutschland - On June 13, 2025, the Hospizverein Bad Kissingen made its way to the Schweinfurt crematorium. This facility, also known as the fire hall, was built in 1965 and presented itself to the hospice attendants as a place where death was treated in a calm and respectful atmosphere. The participants were given exciting insights behind the scenes of the crematorium, which was led by Theresa Walter, the head of the cemetery administration and the crematorium. Her focus was on the dignity of the deceased and the mourners, which found space in this ambience.

The work in the crematorium has its own rhythm. Cemetery administration employees are responsible for opening and closing the graves and burial of the deceased. An undertaker brings the coffin with the deceased to the crematorium, where the cremation takes place. After this process, the urn is transferred to the burial cemetery. Technical details, such as the modern, computer -controlled ovens that reach temperatures of over 750 degrees Celsius, usually remain invisible to visitors, but were clearly explained by the technicians during the tour.

insight into the cremation

The cremation is a process that deals with a cremation, i.e. the burn instead of burial, which can take around 90 minutes. This process creates about three kilograms of ashes that are transferred to a special urn. A flaw stone with a continuous number is placed in the urn with the remains to ensure clear identification. These are essential steps to offer the deceased people the respectful farewell that they earn. The design of the funeral service, which can either take place on the coffin or on the urn, also plays an important role.

In the German context, the Schweinfurt crematorium is not alone. There are around 160 crematoriums in Germany, mainly in larger cities. The first cremation took place in Germany as early as 1874. Traditional earth burials are increasingly becoming the background, while fire burials, such as those practiced in the crematorium, are becoming popular. This correlates with a general decline in church burials because religious customs and traditions lose influence.

The costs at a glance

The cost of fire burial is an average of between 1,500 and 3,000 euros, whereby the cremation itself costs around 300 euros. Many relatives face the challenge of high burial costs, which is why it is not surprising that the majority are willing to spend between 2,000 and 4,000 euros for burial. A competition has developed among funeral home in recent years, while the alternative to traditional burial is becoming more and more a topic.

In the meantime, not only are earth burials in demand, but also tree, urn and even sea burials are becoming increasingly popular as alternatives. Regardless of whether in a cemetery or in a funeral forest, the possibilities of saying goodbye to deceased are versatile. For many, the tombstone represents an important place of grief, while others are increasingly preferring personal use of the ashes and discovering new forms of farewell.

The impressive experiences of the Bad Kissingen hospice association in the Schweinfurt crematorium testify to humanity, which is retained even in the face of farewell. Every cremation is not only a last step, but also part of life that can be lived in Respeto and dignity.