Funecap takes over the activities of the Facultatieve
The French funeral organization Funecap will take over the activities of the Facultatieve as of December 21st. This concerns the eleven crematoria in three countries, FT (Facultatieve Technologies) with branches all over the world and all other activities.
Highest quality
“I am very pleased with Funecap as a shareholder”, says Patrick De Meyer, President and CEO of the Facultatieve. “To ensure the long-term continuity of our Group, we had been looking for a shareholder for some time with the same vision of delivering the highest quality, respect, trust and partnership as with the Facultatieve al been central for over a hundred years. With Funecap I am convinced that we have succeeded in this.”
No changes
Although the takeover means that the Facultatieve will have a different shareholder, nothing will change in day-to-day practice. “Everything will remain as it is. Everyone with and for whom we are allowed to work will be able to continue to rely on the Facultatieve as it has always done. All operating companies will also remain recognizable under their current name. And nothing will change in terms of personnel either,” says Patrick De Meyer, who adds that he will continue to lead the Facultatieve as chairman of the board.
Powerful organization
“The acquisition fits perfectly with our strategy to be a leader in all countries where we are present. The Facultatieve is a well-known and powerful organization with worldwide experience and who share exactly the same values as Funecap, they think about high quality and service just as we do. In addition, the Facultatieve has a consistent and specific knowledge in all the countries where it is active”, say Thierry Gisserot and Xavier Thoumieux, CEO and founders of Funecap.
All specific knowledge and strength will be used in the coming period to also expand the seven crematoria that Funecap took over earlier this year in the Netherlands under the flag of the Facultatieve with the aim of improving the quality of services to families and next of kin to continuously improve.
Funecap
Funecap – with its head office in Paris – is an international funeral organization with the ambition to become the leading funeral specialist in every country where it is active and where high quality and trust are always central. Funecap is currently active in four countries (France, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands) with more than 85 crematoriums, a network in France of about 600 offices and more than 200 funeral homes.
Opening of Crematorium Aigle
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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
FT attending Funéraire 2021
As global market leader in the fields of design, construction and maintenance of cremators and incineration equipment, Facultatieve Technologies (FT) attended the bi-annual Funéraire trade fair in Paris (le Bourget) from 17 to 19 November this year.
At our stand – designed with a lot of greenery – we were able to inform many visitors on the latest technology.
Construction of Rees Crematorium expected to be completed in autumn 2022
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 8th 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.”
Opening new section of Moscowa memorial park
The photo shows President and CEO of ‘the Facultatieve Group’ P. De Meyer on the left and B. Roelofs – Councillor in Arnhem on the right.
Upon unveiling the statue titled ‘De Omarming’ (the embrace), the Councillor for Arnhem B. Roelofs and President and CEO P. De Meyer of ‘the Facultatieve Group’ officially opened the new section of Moscowa memorial park on 21 May (Arnhem, the Netherlands). This newly constructed section will offer space for a few hundred new graves. Councillor Roelofs: “Moscowa is a very well-known and important location for many people of Arnhem. It evokes emotions and can offer great solace. Personally I also appreciate the beauty and atmosphere of the park, very typical of Arnhem. It was therefore my honour to be allowed to open this new section of Moscowa.”
From cemetery to burial park
The new section, which was actually always part of Moscowa but had never been used for burial purposes, has been redesigned since 2017 and fully incorporated in the landscape as a natural part of the park, as intended in the 2007 Master plan drawn up by the municipality of Arnhem and Moscowa to guarantee the quality and safeguard the identity of the memorial park. This ‘Master plan 2007 – 2030: from cemetery to burial park’ is being implemented step by step. For example, many of the large monumental gravestones were renovated, a variety of green structures were restored throughout the park and the entrance to the monumental Roman Catholic section was modified.
Walks during Weekend of the Cemetery
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.