COVID-19: a remembrance ceremony dedicated to bereaved families

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This collective, non-denominational remembrance ceremony is intended to offer a little comfort to families who were unable to organise a funeral service in memory of their dearly departed with the desired number of participants due to the health restrictions. Participation by invitation with the possibility of following the ceremony online for the families concerned.

During the period from 16 March 2020 to 14 March 2021, funerals were sometimes organised with a very limited number of participants due to the strict health regulations. These constraints were acutely felt by grieving families who were unable to pay their respects to their loved one as they might have wished.

In order to offer a little comfort to all those who lost a loved one during this period, the undertakers, cemeteries and crematorium service is organising a remembrance ceremony at the Saint-Georges funeral centre at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday 6 November 2021. The families of the deceased handled by the City’s undertakers, cemeteries and crematorium service or by a private company during the peak of the pandemic will be invited by letter to attend.

Collective remembrance

Organised in partnership with the Association des célébrant-e-s et officiant-e-s romand-e-s (ACOR), the aim of this collective remembrance service is to allow families to pay their final respects to their dearly departed, say their final farewells and find inspiration to move on. The ceremony will include readings by non-denominational officiants, musical accompaniment and mourning rituals with the participation of the families. It will be concluded by a procession to the Remembrance Cedar in the Saint-Georges cemetery. At the end of the remembrance ceremony, the families will be invited to share a “glass of friendship”.

Anyone who is unable or does not wish to visit the Saint-Georges funeral centre will be able to watch a live broadcast of the service via a secure Internet link.