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Crematorium Aigle was opened on 10 June with a work of art being unveiled by the ‘Municipal’ of Aigle, Fabrice Cottier and Patrick De Meyer, Chairman and CEO of ‘the Facultatieve Group’. “For over a hundred years now, ‘the Facultatieve Group’ has stood for the best possible service” says Patrick De Meyer. “Our highest priority has always been top quality, cooperation and respect for the deceased and the bereaved.”

For further information: www.crematoriumaigle.ch

Fabrice Cottier (left) and Patrick De Meyer

From left to right: Stefan van Dorsser (director of Rees Crematorium), Patrick De Meyer (President and CEO of ‘the Facultatieve Group’), Christoph Gerwers (Mayor of Rees Municipality) and Heinz Streuff (Rees Municipality Urban Development).

To celebrate construction of the Rees Crematorium, a so-called ‘construction sign’ was erected on 8^th November at the site located on the Grüttweg in Rees. The sign was unveiled by the Mayor of Rees, Christoph Gerwers, and Patrick De Meyer, President and CEO of ‘the Facultatieve Group’. The Group is building the crematorium and will be also providing service there. Construction of Rees Crematorium – one of the most sustainable crematoria in Germany – is expected to be completed in autumn 2022.

Quality of service and respect
“Our organisation has stood for the best possible service for more than a hundred years,” says Patrick De Meyer, President and CEO of ‘the Facultatieve Group’. “Our highest priority has always been top quality, cooperation and respect for the deceased and the bereaved. If construction continues to run according to plan, we expect Rees Crematorium to conduct its first ceremony in autumn 2022.”

Modern and sustainable
“The Rees Crematorium building will be both modern and sustainable. It will includes an intimate auditorium, a dedicated room for offering condolences with extensive options for catering, two visiting rooms where the bereaved will be able to pay their last respects to their loved ones, and a tastefully decorated foyer where guests can be welcomed,” explains Stefan van Dorsser, director of Rees Crematorium. “Thanks to the state-of-the-art cremator with its energy-recovery capability, Rees Crematorium will meet and surpass the most stringent of environmental standards in Europe. What’s more, the installation will use Biofuel (carbon neutral) and will be equipped with a system that reduces  Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) emissions to atmosphere. The building will also be fitted with an eco-friendly Sedum roof featuring solar panels, making it one of the most sustainable crematoria in Germany.”

During the national Weekend of the Cemetery – whose theme this year is ‘Cemeteries: full of love’ – Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium (Driehuis) and Moscowa Cemetery & Crematorium (Arnhem), both in the Netherlands, are offering very special walks.

 Individual walks
“As group walks and activities are currently not allowed because of Covid-19 measures, we are pleased to welcome visitors in a different manner,” explains Carla Bosua, director of the two locations. “After all, our beautiful memorial parks are very suitable for a walk, either alone or in a small group. We provide a map and description so that everyone can discover for themselves that our cemeteries are also ‘full of love’.”

Westerveld
On 30 May, Westerveld is offering a very special countryside walk which takes in a number of monuments. A route description is available from Petit Café Westerveld, where staff will be pleased to welcome walkers to the café patio, where food and drinks are available.

Moscowa:
A special route has been set out in Moscowa Memorial Park, to take in graves which are ‘full of love’ for a loved one, but also for a hobby, pet or profession, for example. The walk is extremely suitable for a solo trip or in a small group. A map is available from Moscowa tearoom, and clearly shows the route.

www.bc-westerveld.nl

www.moscowa.nl

A special letterbox has been installed at the entrance to Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium as of this week. Family members can use it to send post containing personal messages to the loved ones they have lost.

Initiative by Anita Meinema
The letterbox for ‘letters to heaven’ is an initiative by Anita Meinema from Santpoort-Noord. Anita’s parents and husband were cremated at Westerveld, and their ashes were also scattered there. After regularly writing letters to her husband after his death, Anita realised that this helped her a great deal in coping with her loss. Her next thought was that if it helped her, it might also help other people to send a ‘letter to heaven’. She approached Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium with her idea, and they have since installed a special letterbox at the entrance to the park. On posting her ‘letter to heaven’ on 18 May, Anita Meinema’s wish was granted.

Anita Meinema explains: “I love walking around Westerveld Park because it’s beautiful. Luckily, Westerveld immediately welcomed my idea. I’m delighted that there is now a letterbox for anyone wanting to write a letter, whether it’s personal or anonymous. Who knows what people may write; a poem, a final goodbye or simply a ‘chat’.”

Offering other people comfort
“We are delighted and proud to have been able to become part of this beautiful initiative,” says Jessica Hof of Westerveld Cemetery & Crematorium. “I truly hope that writing letters can help comfort family and friends in their time of loss, just as it did Anita Meinema.”