On the occasion of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, France Bleu took an interest in the funeral rites in France. We addressed a series of questions to the members of the cooperative “Le Choix Funeraire”, a network of funeral directors and marble workers which covers all of France. Around thirty professionals told us some memorable memories. Here are their most unusual stories.
Flamenco at the crematorium
Some funeral ceremonies are out of the ordinary. Several people who responded to us emphasize how much “the freedom that crematoriums offer in terms of ceremonies allows for unforgettable experiences.” Thus, Vincent, a funeral advisor in the South-West, remembers the death of the founder of a bullfighting association and flamenco lover. “I, with the agreement of the priest, organized a religious ceremony in an arena. I accompanied the family to the crematorium where I invited them to dance flamenco in front of the coffin while holding a glass of red wine in their hands “. For this professional, “a beautiful and atypical encounter”.
Guard of honor and procession of heavy goods vehicles
Another story of an extraordinary ceremony, the one organized in tribute to a truck driver “respected and passionate about decorated trucks”. “A moment full of emotion and respect” remembers the professional. “Coming from all over France, heavy goods vehicle drivers came to pay a final tribute to the man who knew how to combine his profession with his passion. At the end of the civil ceremony, the trucks, true works of art on wheels, took to the road in an impressive procession, led by the hearse. Among them, two of the deceased's emblematic trucks: “The Scarface” and “The Narcos”.explains this manager of a funeral home in the North, “these behemoths of the road, adorned with bright colors and personalized designs, proudly carried huge portraits of the deceased, made on fabric canvases, hanging at the back. The procession set off, making the engines roar and emitting thick black smoke The people who came without trucks formed a guard of honor on each side of the road, applauding fervently as the coffin passed, showing the admiration and affection they had for their friend. “.
The ceremony attracted more than 500 people. Some of the participants had to follow the event by video on their mobile phones, gathered in the square opposite the funeral homes. A ceremony engraved in the memory of this professional who adds that, for her, “listening and understanding the needs of those who are grieving is essential to providing an authentic and meaningful tribute.”
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Ti'punch around the coffin
“At the exit of the church, the coffin of the deceased was placed on the square ready to be blessed” remembers Jean-Christophe, undertaker in Ardèche. “The family improvised a bar to serve everyone present a Ti'punch, because it was the specialty of the deceased (Martiniquais). This moment was timeless, people came to toast with the deceased, anecdotes abounded and tears gave way to laughter.
A torchlight ceremony
“The most atypical ceremony I have done”indicates Sylvain, undertaker in Occitanie, “is the one where I made a tribute in the cemetery of a small village in April around 10 p.m.”. Sylvain remembers that with his colleagues from the funeral directors, they had “put spotlights and torches on the access leading to the vault, musicians were playing! It remains an incredible memory and we still talk about it regularly with my colleagues present that day.”
When the deceased are “present”
Another undertaker we interviewed was left marked by a ceremony that the deceased had largely anticipated. She had done “a voice recording before her death. And we played it during the ceremony, she spoke to each member of the assembly”. Another anecdote told by a professional based in Manche, the story of a gentleman “who played the accordion, he had prepared his ceremony by recording himself playing and had chosen his photos for the slideshow”.
Undertakers in flowered shirts
The deceased honored that day did not like dark colors. This is why Nicolas, manager of a funeral home in Camargue, asked his team to wear Hawaiian outfits during the ceremony.
Police escort to the funeral
Hervé, funeral advisor in Touraine, remembered a high security ceremony. A police escort was present and the premises had been cordoned off, because a detainee was among those gathered for the funeral. Authorized to leave detention exceptionally, he remained under close surveillance, but the ceremony took place without fanfare. “In accompanying a bereaved family, the master of ceremonies is the one who will, with the family, place the deceased in his grave”, he adds. “We know that what we do is much more than a job.”
