Viewing - Take the time to say goodbye

The Bern Crematorium has 21 viewing rooms. All rooms are accessible without barriers. Access is available from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. You may leave at any time. The viewing room containing the casket is climate-controlled and separated from the visitors’ area by a glass partition. However, access to the casket is possible when accompanied by staff from the crematorium or the funeral home. The viewing may take place with the casket open or closed. At the request of the bereaved family, we are happy to decorate the viewing rooms with plants and candlelight. These candles burn throughout the entire duration of the viewing. The viewing period for the deceased is generally three days. This can easily be extended to allow for the time needed to say goodbye.

The foyer of the viewing rooms is designed to allow mourners to gather, share memories, and pay their respects to the deceased.

Cremation – Individuality Even After Death

Cremation

The Bern Crematorium opened in 1908. Over the years, cremation has become increasingly preferred over burial. In 2023, over 3,700 cremations took place at the Bern Crematorium.

Procedure

The transfer of the deceased to the Bern Crematorium is carried out by a funeral home. The funeral home has a vehicle equipped for this purpose (hearse). The deceased may only be cremated in a wooden coffin. The funeral home is generally responsible for procuring a suitable coffin. The coffin must be made of softwood (preferably fir) and must not be varnished. The maximum dimensions of a coffin that can be brought into the Bern Crematorium are H 750 mm, W 850 mm (in the shape of the body).

Viewing

The Bern Crematorium provides appropriate viewing rooms for the deceased, with the visitors’ area accessible to mourners until fifteen minutes before the start of the funeral service. Upon request, the viewing rooms can be decorated with plants and candles. The bereaved family or the funeral home provides the relevant instructions when registering for cremation.

Funeral Service

Two chapels are available at the Bern Crematorium for funeral services. It is the responsibility of the bereaved family to arrange for a pastor or a funeral speaker. Organ music and the decoration of the chapel with plants can be requested by the bereaved family or the funeral director when registering the cremation or directly with bgf.

Chapels – Supported by the Community

The funeral service allows relatives to say goodbye together with friends and acquaintances and to express their grief collectively.
The Bern Crematorium has two chapels available for services. The chapels are fully accessible for people with limited mobility. Both chapels are equipped with an audio system that includes a microphone and a music system. The system can be operated by the bereaved family members themselves or by our staff. The funeral services can be enhanced by our organs, played by highly skilled organists. We are happy to provide you with a projector and screen. Funeral services with a casket or urn are possible in both chapels.

Small Chapel

The small chapel offers 120 seats and approximately 20 standing spaces. The duration of the funeral service is generally limited to 45 minutes. The small chapel is decorated with potted plants and large funeral candles. Candles used for rituals must be placed in glasses or on a sufficiently large fireproof surface.

Urn niches – The special alternative to a grave

The urn niche is an individual alternative to urn burial in a standard row, family, or communal grave. The Bern Crematorium offers niches in every size, from two-person niches to family niches (up to eight people).

The lease term corresponds to the statutory resting period of twenty years and can be extended at the request of the bereaved. The rent includes general maintenance and cleaning of the premises. We are happy to assist the bereaved family with the maintenance and planting of the niches. If desired, these tasks will be carried out by our staff. The engravings on the niche plaques are carefully handcrafted by our partner companies. We will coordinate the burial date and time according to the wishes of the bereaved family.