“Being a funeral director is a calling,” business manager Kathleen Clerebaut begins her story. The funeral home from Haaltert opened its doors to the general public on Sunday for Open Business Day. “People can come and see what’s happening behind the scenes here. There is still a taboo surrounding death and we want to try to remove that.”
With an auditorium for 150 people, greeting rooms, its own printing company for prayer cards, a care room, and a wide range of coffins, urns and funeral flowers, Bael Funeral Care provides funerals from A to Z. “We officially opened the doors of this building in 2018 , but we have been in the funeral sector all our lives,” Kathleen continues. “Everyone deserves a dignified farewell, because you can only say goodbye once.”
“With us, no ceremony is identical. We take the time to write tailor-made texts and ensure that each service is a reflection of the life and personality of the deceased.”
The funeral home could count on many visitors. “I am in my twenties and I have not yet come into contact with death much, which makes me curious about how everything works here,” says visitor Femke Torrekens. “I have been going to Open Business Day with my parents for several years and we are always looking for new things to see. That’s how we ended up here this year.”
“It’s nice to see a funeral home in a different setting. If you have to come here, it is normally not positive, but now it is nice to come and see without negative emotions.”
The opbaren
Anja Sonck and her husband, who live near the funeral home, were also impressed. “I am interested in the method of laying out. The explanation about it has stayed with me. I think you have to have strong character to do that. I lost my mother and father a few years ago and then you stand at such a funeral director paralyzed by grief. Now this is actually a moment when you can visit here neutrally. The phase between someone’s death and the service often remains unknown to relatives.”
Since January this year, flexi-jobs have also been allowed in the funeral sector. Dirk Meyts is such an employee who helps out with the funeral services during his retirement. “The social aspect appeals to me and I find it a meaningful activity,” he says.
