With care and feeling

Mr. Bär, how did you come to work in cemetery management?
My grandfather died during my final exams to become an office administrator at Stadtwerke in 2012. That brought me closer to the topic of death for the first time. As there was a vacancy in the cemetery administration right at that time, I didn't hesitate for long.

What fascinates you about the resting places?
I just love walking around cemeteries, looking at beautiful old stones and marveling at the way they intertwine with the trees. I've become so fond of these places and their atmosphere that I can hardly visit a city without going to its cemeteries. This also keeps me up to date with what is happening and being implemented at other resting places.

What tasks does your new position entail?
In future, I will be responsible for field staff and will take on even more project management, for example for the gardener-managed gravesites, which are playing an increasingly important role in our daily work. Thanks to my experience, I can also stand in for my boss Gabriele Schreiber depending on the occasion.

In what way is November a special month for you?
We naturally have more work to do because of the holidays and memorials to the dead - especially at the weekends, when special services and wreath-laying ceremonies are scheduled. More visitors come then than in any other month, and everything has to be particularly clean and tidy, otherwise the phone will be ringing off the hook on Monday.

Were there any moments at the cemetery that were particularly memorable for you?
Just recently, I was very moved by a funeral service when a little girl stood crying at her dad's grave. I asked myself what it would be like if my seven-year-old son had to stand here now, and my eyes got wet. But there are always nice experiences too, especially when funeral services are organized with live music. Recently, a man played the harmonica for his deceased best friend, which was a real goosebump moment.