I'm not afraid of death.
Just as life comes after birth, something comes after death.
I believe in that, and my job has strengthened my belief even further,” says Martin Weisbeck, who took over the joinery and funeral home in Bimbach 29 years ago.
The wearer of the glasses is dressed in dark: black leather shoes, black suit pants, white shirt, black tie, with a pin in the shape of a cross.
He walks briskly to the opposite side of the small, cold, brightly lit, sterile-looking room.
In the back corner is the cooling chamber, in which the deceased are kept at 2 to 6 degrees Celsius until they are cared for.
He suddenly opens the heavy, white door and carefully pushes out a transfer stretcher with a black body bag.
Weisbeck gently opens the zipper.
With the help of an employee from the carpentry shop, he lifts the lifeless body onto a metal-grey autopsy table.
The deceased is still wearing the white and blue patient gown from the hospital.
Training to become a qualified undertaker
When people die in the hospital, they are housed in designated rooms until they are picked up by the undertaker.
It's the same in nursing homes.
If a person dies at home, a doctor must be informed, who will come and issue the death certificate.
In Hesse, the funeral law states that relatives may keep the deceased at home for up to 36 hours after death to say goodbye.
"Some use this time and want to keep the deceased person with them for as long as they like, and others want the transfer to take place relatively quickly after the doctor has been there.
It just depends on how people deal with death, everyone has their own attitude, and you have to accept that," says the former paramedic.
Due to his voluntary work in the rescue service, he has no fear of contact with death, the deceased or the bereaved and decided to do the training to become a certified undertaker in Düsseldorf.
In order to practice the profession, this training is not absolutely necessary.
From a legal point of view, anyone who has a trade license can do this.
"This means that if you are of legal age and want to start your own business overnight, you can still do it today," explains the father of two.
who has a business license.
"This means that if you are of legal age and want to start your own business overnight, you can still do it today," explains the father of two.
who has a business license.
"This means that if you are of legal age and want to start your own business overnight, you can still do it today," explains the father of two.
Shortly before this, the metabolic functions stop
"In contact with the bereaved, I have to be the one who keeps a cool head and guides the relatives well through this difficult time.
That touches you.
Sometimes you take that home with you too, although I try to forget that from the moment I get home.
But that doesn't always work.
Especially when you know the family, even if only superficially.” In conversations with the bereaved, their wishes for the funeral are discussed.
If the deceased has already expressed wishes, these will of course be included in the planning.
It is important for the relatives to allow the grief to be felt, because it is worst when it is suppressed or covered over.
“There is no recipe for dealing with grief, everyone has to find their own way.