Types of Graves and Burial Practices

Some people have already thought about how they would like to be buried before their death, while for others, their surviving relatives must make the decision. Cremation or burial—this decision must be made.

The choice of burial type should ideally be considered while the person is still alive, together with their loved ones. In doing so, it’s helpful to ask yourself what significance a permanent resting place has for the grieving process and whether grave maintenance is important to the bereaved.

Maintenance-free grave types are very popular because they entail few obligations for the family. However, studies indicate that for many family members, coming to terms with their grief is more difficult without a personalized and maintainable place of remembrance. Therefore, in addition to practical considerations, the emotional needs of the bereaved should also be taken into account. The following aspects can help in choosing the type of grave:

• For many people, mourning rituals at the grave are an important part of saying goodbye
• Laying flowers, lighting a candle, or regularly visiting the gravesite can help maintain a connection to the deceased and support the grieving process
• In fact, most bereaved family members feel drawn to the burial site and return to it time and again
• Anonymous burials are viewed critically by many experts, as they do not provide a specific place of remembrance. This can make the individual grieving process more difficult and runs counter to the human need for a fixed place of remembrance

Against this backdrop, we, as the cemetery administration, offer a space within our new, maintenance-free burial plots for urns where you can design the grave yourself. Here, you can plant your own flowers or place grave decorations.

The cemetery where a person is buried depends on the parish to which their last place of residence belonged.

Digital Cemetery Map

There is a QR code in the display cases at the entrances to the municipal cemeteries. By scanning the code or entering the web address https://erlangen.friedhofsplan.de, you can access the digital cemetery map via your smartphone. In many ways, it provides a modern and up-to-date solution.