Overcome loneliness: funeral service for forgotten in Schweinfurt

Overcome loneliness: funeral service for forgotten in Schweinfurt

On an October morning in Schweinfurt, the "Sound of Silence" sounds in the sanctuary of the main cemetery. Around 70 people have come together to say goodbye to deceased who otherwise had no one. The city church has organized a funeral service for the second time that is dedicated to the subject of the loneliness of seniors. Deacon Joachim Werb welcomes the guests and the moving sounds accompany the appreciation of the late souls.

The room is filled with 17 urns, each stands for a life that ended in the past six months - without relatives. While the names of the deceased are solemnly read out, Werb asks: "Who were these people?" Large gestures are trying to push their loneliness into the background while students with paper hearts decorate the stage. Names such as Renate, Herbert or Svitlana tell quietly about a life that was often ignored.

a strong sign against loneliness

Inspirational was the origin of this funeral service. Deacon Werb, touched by a report from Halle, wanted to create something similar for Schweinfurt, a city that has to struggle with frequent age. "The strangidness of the previous state was unbearable," he says, emphasizing that the deceased "came under the ground in accordance with the articles of association" than that their lives were recognized. Now, after this sonorous ceremony, many shaken flowers can lay down and pay attention to the deceased.

The urns will be buried anonymously shortly, which remains a bitter aftertaste. Werb demands that the city administration set up special graves for these people. "People want to know where the deceased are," says Werb, trying to get in touch with the cemetery administration. Despite the costs for the funeral service, the city church shows gratitude for donations to support this important tradition - a step that brings both hope and consolation in an often dreary reality.