Renovation of the mourning hall makes progress
The renovation of the mourning hall at the New Cemetery in Offenbach is well on schedule: the shell for the new cold storage cells has been completed and most of the roof has been replaced. Inside the hall, extensive work is being carried out on the building services, with pipes and ventilation already installed.
"Almost all contracts have been awarded and the measures have so far been within budget," says city treasurer and responsible department head Martin Wilhelm. "We are confident that the budget of 8.8 million euros will be met." As of April 2026, the modernization of the building will be completed by the end of 2026 to the beginning of 2027. After the final finishing touches, funeral services are to be held in the renovated hall again in the first quarter of 2027. "Then the familiar paraphernalia from the temporary hall built within walking distance will be put back in place," says Gabriele Schreiber, Head of Municipal Cemeteries. The interim hall continues to be well received: "The number of bookings is unchanged."
Work on the roof of the funeral hall, which was built in 1968, is well advanced: In addition to new insulation, a photovoltaic system is being installed here. A family business is also ensuring that the windows by artist Bernd Rosenheim that characterize the funeral hall are gradually being refurbished. In the foyer of the hall, the structural work for the new elevator has been completed. It will guarantee accessibility in the renovated building in the future, as will the new disabled toilets on the first floor and the removal of the steps between the parking lot and the mourning hall.