No old cemeteries in NW Westphalen?
|
gstrick
(View posts)
|
Posted: 17 Sep 2011 9:57PM GMT
|
|
Classification: Query
|
|
Surnames: Stricker Bruenderman Schrief
|
Just spent part of 2 days walking cemeteries (friedhofs) in the Greven and Ochtrup areas in Germany. All the friedhofs we found were amazingly beautiful, but that's not all.
Very few people in any of the many friedhofs we explored were born before 1900. It's like older friedhofs don't exist or something. None of the natives speak enough English (or us, German) to have a conversation about this.
Anyone have any insights? Would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! :-)
|
Re: No old cemeteries in NW Westphalen?
The cemeteries are actually old, but the headstones do not reflect that. I am not sure exactly how it works, but I know that families pay for the upkeep (almost rental like) of the graves. When they no longer pay, the spot becomes available to somebody else. Families can also bury people in the same grave. I think they may require a certain amount of time for the breakdown of one body before burying another. At least that is how it was when my mom was growing up in Westfalen.
|
Re: No old cemeteries in NW Westphalen?
|
kobra28
(View posts)
|
Posted: 20 Nov 2011 4:06PM GMT
|
|
Classification: Query
|
Edited: 20 Nov 2011 4:07PM GMT
|
|
Surnames:
|
hallo
It is like banjo22 said : the graves remain for a time of 30 years and you have to pay for the ground.
after 30 years the graves are levelled and used for next burial.
there are only few headstones with older dates than 80 years.caused by burial of grandfather and father
and than children in the same spot.
in very small villages eventually can be found older graves.
or if someone was an outstanding person in town, e.g. mayor
|
Re: No old cemeteries in NW Westphalen?
Hello all,
I can confirm that. The graves are "rented" for a period of time (usually 30-40 years) and if the descendents do not pay for an "extention period", the grave will be levelled.
Sad side effect:
The "rental time" counts from the first reantal date. No matter if someone is burried there or not. If someone wants to reserve a grave during his live time (e.g. for him/her and the spouse) the time is already ticking from that moment.
Especially in case of a double/couple graves this might get complicate if the spouse dies decades after the partner.
Best Regards
Thomas
PS: needless to mention that the grave "fee" and the maximum duration time depends on the size of the town, the grave yard and the number of available graves.
|