2023-10-29 05:00:00
As All Saints’ Day approaches, many Belgians visit the graves of their deceased. Others choose to come more regularly and some would like to come more often, but do not have the opportunity. Whatever the case and no matter how often, coming to visit a missing loved one is always a solemn moment.
A moment that Myriam will no longer experience, who experienced a mishap while visiting the grave of her deceased grandparents. She writes to us via the orange Alert us button.
We were told that everything was going to be done according to the rules of the art
“I went to see the grave of my parents and my grandparents at the Familleureux cemetery and the grave had disappeared! A few years ago, we took steps with the Municipal Administration of Seneffe so that it did not disappear, following a notice was left on their grave. We had requested that the remains be returned to us in order to have them transferred to a family vault. The tombstone, well maintained, was not returned to us. We consider this sentimental and material theft“, she denounces.
Still shocked by the sudden disappearance of her grandparents’ vault, Myriam and her children do not understand how this might have been possible. We didn’t warn them! “We say to ourselves “But what happened to them”? Where is the respect for our ancestors? However, we were told that everything was going to be fixed according to the rules of the art.”.
What are these rules exactly? How can we explain the disappearance of this grave, without having informed the family? Who sets the rules and what are they? Explanations.
“A grave is a form of rental”
Currently, in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, concessions are granted for a minimum period of ten years and a maximum of thirty years. Renewals of existing concessions, including old concessions in perpetuity, are granted for a minimum period of ten years and a maximum of thirty years.
To understand the rest of the operations, our teams went to meet Xavier Deflorenne, coordinator of the funeral heritage management unit of the Walloon Region. He is also known in the region as “Mr. Cemetery”.
“When choosing a concession, you have the choice between concessions which last up to 30 years and non-concessional locations, which give no rights. We can therefore have a non-paying location, knowing that this does not give any right to renewal.“, he explains.
If at the time, the concession period went up to perpetuity, then 50 years, the rule now is 30 years: “To be renewed, the concession must be paid for with rent and well maintained, otherwise the municipality can also file a notice“.
How can we explain that the grave of Myriam’s parents was cleared without her being informed? “If there is no renewal, the family receives a letter one month before a poster is placed on the grave. Tombs that disappear don’t normally exist“.
A communal hiccup led Myriam to find an empty cemetery of her grandparents’ tomb. However, the delays before removing the graves are relatively long.
“Minimum two All Saints’ Days, during which the poster is visible. From now on, families sometimes no longer visit the graves at least once a year, which is why the legislation provides for two All Saints’ Days.“, specifies Xavier Deflorenne. “In short, a family that does not know is a family that does not come to see the grave.“.
Cemeteries are no longer growing
If the law sets two All Saints’ Days as deadlines, you should know that in Seneffe, the town where Myriam’s story took place, is even more flexible. “Here, we even plan three All Saints’ Days“, explains Eric Delannoy, alderman for works and cemeteries, who also points out another problem.
Concessions which are not renewed, in Seneffe as elsewhere, are exhumed. “We need space for others, because the Walloon Region no longer wants to increase the size of cemeteries. They have four walls and you have to stick to them“, he explains.
In these cases, the remains are taken by a contractor and deposited in an ossuary in the cemeteries.
“If they are there, so much the better, at least we know they are somewhere“, philosopher Myriam. “But it’s just a shame, they might have rested with the others, in the family vault“.
cemetery vault tomb Toussaint
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