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The bestatter.ch portal answers all your questions about funerals and funeral arrangements.
Coffins and urns
A coffin is a container for the transportation, laying out, burial or cremation of a corpse. A burial coffin is used for burial in the ground and a cremation coffin for cremation in a crematorium. Burial in the ground is subject to compulsory burial in a cemetery.
The ashes of the cremated person are placed in the urn. You are free to dispose of the urn as you wish. There is no obligation to bury the urn in a cemetery. The funeral director has a wide range of coffins and urns to choose from. The subject of coffins and urns should therefore be discussed with specialists so that relatives can make the right and sensible decisions.
From the time of death until burial or cremation, 96 hours should not be exceeded. This time limit cannot be adhered to in every case, which is why exceptions are possible. No burial or cremation may take place until 48 hours have elapsed since the death was confirmed by a doctor. During this time, the body may be laid out in an open or closed coffin. There, people can say goodbye to the deceased person.
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The Swiss funeral portal.
Is the coffin, the urn present at the funeral service?
At the funeral service, you can decide for yourself how you want to arrange it. Whether you want to have the urn or the coffin with you, you can decide individually. The urn interment may also take place at a later date than the funeral service. The funeral service can also be combined directly with the urn or coffin burial. Ask the local funeral home what options can be realized.
Can I bury an urn in the forest, nature, in the lake?
Yes, in principle, burial in the forest, nature and in the lake is allowed in Switzerland.
Forest
It is not forbidden to bury the urn in a forest in Switzerland. It is recommended to inform the local municipality. In special forest cemeteries, tree burial can be performed by a company specializing in natural burials or by the funeral director. On private property, you must obtain the owner’s consent.
Burial at sea
You can have a burial at sea with a funeral director, they will follow local laws and may even work with a shipping company that offers such burials at sea.
If a burial at sea is carried out by the burial service itself, the cantonal burial law as well as the local law must be observed.
Nature
You can scatter the ashes in nature. Be careful not to disturb other people and that the ashes can be carried away by the wind. For burial in the ground, the consent of the owner of the land must be obtained.
Can I take an urn home?
Yes, you may. In Switzerland there is no obligation to bury urns. You can place the urn in your home or even in the garden. Burial in the garden is also allowed. Make sure the urn is made of suitable materials, depending on its intended use. The funeral home you trust will be happy to advise you.
Are there cardboard coffins?
Yes, there are cardboard coffins. In Switzerland, these are hardly used at all. Crematoria in Switzerland refuse to deliver a deceased person in a cardboard coffin. During cremation, the cardboard coffin provides little calorific value and is therefore unsuitable. Many people additionally feel that the cardboard coffin is undignified.
What are the coffin factories?
In Switzerland there are the following coffin factories:
Adrian Willimann AG Sargfabriakton – Rickenbach
AF Funeris Sàrl in Chénens
Egli Sargproduktion AG – Beromünster
Hager coffin production – Kriens
Hans Gerber AG – Lindau
How is a coffin made?
Coffin production in Switzerland is usually a serial production. The basic materials are solid wood or wood-based panels. The individual parts consist of the bottom board, the lid board, the side boards and the head and foot board. The basic steps are cutting wooden boards, sanding and fine sanding, surface treatment and final assembly.
What urns are allowed?
If the urn is interred in the cemetery, the cemetery regulations must be observed. Since every cemetery regulation is drafted differently, this question cannot be answered in a blanket manner. However, the trend towards biodegradable urns has led to many cemeteries allowing mainly organic urns to be buried. It is best to inquire with the funeral home nearest you.
Can I use anything as an urn?
In principle, one can answer this question with “yes”. As long as the container is stable and can be closed well and does not interfere with the funeral director’s work. It is best to ask the funeral home you trust.
Cemetery
In the event of burial in the cemetery, the cemetery regulations must be observed. Many cemeteries have explicit rules about what materials and urns can and cannot be interred. Each cemetery has its own regulations, it is best to consult with the funeral director.
Home
In Switzerland there is no compulsory burial, so an urn can be taken home.
Capacity
Make sure that the container for an adult person has a capacity of at least 3 liters, so that the ash can completely fit in it.
Is it true that private transport of urns is prohibited in many German states?
Yes, that’s right. In Germany, there is a cemetery obligation. The ash capsule or the urn with the ashes may not be taken home or buried outside of a cemetery. Accordingly, only the funeral home may transport urns.
Who makes urns?
In many cases, these are large companies that specialize in the production of urns and distribute them internationally. In recent years, countless individual businesses have emerged in Switzerland, mostly potteries or woodturners who have built up a small range of urns that are distributed regionally.
Forms
Straight shape
The plain form is mostly taken for cremations.
Body shape
This shape is often taken for burial caskets, but can vary greatly from region to region.
Curved shape
This coffin has a curved edge and is practically made only for the Swiss market.
Chest coffin
There is the chest form as well as the American chest coffin, where the top half of the lid can be opened when saying goodbye.
Cardboard coffins
Cardboard coffins are made of cardboard, paper and cellulose and coated with a waterproof layer. In Switzerland, this coffin is a niche product and is hardly used. They are also hard to obtain because they bring too many disadvantages.
Zinc coffin
For a foreign transport a zinc coffin is used, which is soldered before the transport. In countries that do not have crematoria, a zinc coffin is used for burials in the ground in order not to contaminate the soil.
Child coffin
Children’s coffins come in different lengths. In many cases they are white or painted with bright colors.
Urn, Sea Urn, Biological Urn, Burial Coffin, Casket
After a cremation, the ashes of a deceased person are placed in an urn. There are a variety of urns. The urns differ in shape, color, materials, etc.
The urns are different because they are meaningful to the bereaved. It is often a personal taste that decides which urn is chosen. In addition, sometimes the person of the deceased is taken into account. For example, the affinity with the wood of the deceased person is expressed by choosing a wooden urn.
But there are also very practical reasons to choose an urn. When an urn is buried in water, it must of course have certain characteristics, such as being sinkable and perishable. Or if an urn is taken home, relatives may not want the urn to be recognizable as an urn. Perhaps the urn should also be imperishable in the ground so that it can be removed from the ground after a few years, or perhaps the opposite should be true and the urn should dissolve in the ground.
In addition, there are also small urns (reliquary urns). In them is filled only a small part of the ash. Perhaps the main urn is buried in a cemetery and as a memento, a small portion of the ashes are taken home and placed in a reliquary urn.
Does it need a coffin?
A coffin is necessary to ensure a dignified burial. A wooden coffin is a prerequisite for transport, burial and cremation or burial in the ground. Cremations are made of easily combustible wood, while burials are made of more noble woods and more elegant shapes, even with ornaments or carvings.
May I empty an urn?
In Switzerland, the scattering of ashes of deceased persons is permitted. Scatter ashes only in places where no bystanders will be disturbed. Make sure that the wind can carry away the ashes. The cantonal burial laws and local laws must be observed.
Can I take a casket home?
There is no law that prohibits purchasing an empty casket while you are still alive and taking it home.
Home Deposition
A home lay-up may be performed. The deceased is laid out directly in the coffin. For this, however, an appropriate cooling should be available, this is usually offered and carried out by the funeral director. However, it is also possible to lay out in your own bed.
What material is an urn made of?
An urn can be made of a wide variety of materials. A selection of materials used: Clay, wood, Arboform (liquid wood), porcelain, fabric, steel, copper, brass, bronze, plaster, glass, cardboard, plastic, sand, salt, paper.
What material is a coffin made of?
Usually and traditionally, a wooden coffin is used in Switzerland. The basic materials are solid wood or wood-based panels
Cremation coffin
Often simpler models are taken here. Simpler shapes as well as straight coffins. There are many different models from simple to elaborate. It is best to ask the funeral director in your area.
Earth burial coffin
If buried in the ground, more elegant coffins are increasingly being taken. More noble woods and elegant shapes are gladly chosen. It is best to ask the funeral director in your area.
Who makes coffins?
Specialized enterprises dealing only with the production of coffins. The coffins are produced in-house as well as purchased and distributed.
Which coffins are allowed?
In Switzerland, only wooden coffins are allowed. In the case of a burial in the ground, the wooden coffin completes the cycle of life. In the case of cremation, a wooden coffin is useful and necessary, as it brings an inherent calorific value. Unlike the cardboard coffin, which still requires reheating. Currently, there are no crematoria in Switzerland that accept cardboard coffins for cremation.
May I use another container as an urn?
In principle, one can answer this question with “yes”. As long as the container is stable and can be closed well and does not interfere with the funeral director’s work. It is best to ask the funeral home you trust.
Cemetery
In the event of burial in the cemetery, the cemetery regulations must be observed. Many cemeteries have explicit rules about what materials and urns can and cannot be interred. Each cemetery has its own regulations, it is best to consult with the funeral director.
Home
In Switzerland there is no compulsory burial, so an urn can be taken home.
Capacity
Make sure that the container for an adult person has a capacity of at least 3 liters, so that the ash can completely fit in it.
Can I make an urn myself?
In principle, one can answer this question with “yes”. An urn that you want to make yourself should not interfere with the funeral director’s work. The container should be stable and well closed.
Cemetery
In the event of burial in the cemetery, the cemetery regulations must be observed. Many cemeteries have explicit rules about what materials and urns can and cannot be interred. Each cemetery has its own regulations, it is best to consult with the funeral director.
Home
In Switzerland there is no compulsory burial, so an urn can be taken home.
Capacity
For an adult person should pay attention to a capacity of at least 3 liters.
Intended use
Depending on where the urn will remain, certain materials are more or less suitable. A perishable clay urn should not be placed outside (for example, in your own backyard) unprotected from the weather.
How to make an urn?
An urn can be created by a machine process or handmade by a manufactory.
Various raw materials
A mold is used here. The raw material (for example, Arboform or clay) is treated and then shaped into the typical urn form.
Wooden urn
A wooden urn is either turned or glued or set from different parts.
Clay urn
These are cast, stamped or molded. Even with machine processes, many work steps are still necessary by hand. Small potteries, on the other hand, make the urns purely by hand.
What urns are available?
There are countless urns made of the most diverse materials as well as shapes.
Materials
A selection of materials used are: Clay, wood, Arboform (liquid wood), porcelain, fabric, steel, copper, brass, bronze, plaster, glass, cardboard, plastic, sand, salt, paper.
Intended use
Depending on the material used, an urn is suitable for burial in the ground, in a columbarium (imperishable urns), in the forest (perishable urn) or a body of water (fast perishable urn).
What are the coffins?
Cremation coffins and burial coffins
Cremation caskets should be made of wood that burns well. The palette ranges from simple to elaborate coffins. For burial in the ground are usually taken more elegant shapes, as well as higher quality woods. Of course, you can also select high-quality cremation coffins. The funeral home you trust can provide you with comprehensive advice, as many offers are tailored to the region.
Cardboard coffin
At the end of the 20th century there were experiments in Switzerland with coffins made of cardboard. However, it was extremely problematic for those involved (e.g. crematoriums, cemeteries for burial in the ground, transfers of morticians, etc.). As a result, the cardboard coffins disappeared and a switch was made to simpler wooden coffins instead.