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What funeral options are available in Switzerland?
During your life, you can specify what you want to be done with your body after your passing. If the deceased person does not leave any specific information, family members determine the funeral arrangements.
In Switzerland, the two most common practices for disposing of the deceased’s body are:
- Cremation
The remains are cremated and the ashes are placed in an urn. The urn is given to the family who may bury it in an urn grave or place it in a niche for funeral urns at the cemetery, or keep it at home. - Burial
The deceased is placed in a coffin which is lowered into a grave at the cemetery. Cemeteries provide a selection of different graves including single, family or collective graves.
For more information about funeral arrangements and the costs and the formalities involved, contact the funeral office in your commune.