In Holešovice, a joint funeral was held for people who died without relatives and loved ones
Burial at the Holešovice cemetery. Photo: with the permission of the City of Prague 7
At the cemetery in Strojnická Street yesterday, the funerals of ten people who died from Prague 7 took part. For the sixth year, the district has been organizing a dignified farewell to people without relatives or loved ones who took care of their funerals. Martin Vokuš, the spokesperson of the town hall, informed about it.
“We are continuing the tradition we started at Sedmička in 2017. The least we can do for neighbors who did not die surrounded by a loving family is to give them a dignified last farewell. “There are strong and often tragic stories behind each urn,” said Prague 7 Mayor Jan Čižinský (Praha 7 Sobě).
This year, for example, he is among the deceased gentlemen from whom the district inherited a fourteen-year-old dog with a diseased heart. She was in danger of living out her life in a shelter. In the end, however, a family with children was found, where the dog got a new home
By law, municipalities have the obligation to tell about the deceased, so-called social funerals, if the relatives cannot be found or if they refuse to fulfill their obligations. Municipalities are reimbursed by the state for cremation.
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However, the law no longer requires municipalities to have a grave where the remains would be deposited, or to provide any ceremonies. Uncollected urns usually end up in anonymous meadows near crematoria.
In 2017, Prague 7 changed this practice and arranged for the deceased from the district to have a grave at the cemetery in Strojnická street. Once a year, he puts urns here that have not been picked up. This year, 10 urns were stored.
Prague 4 also organizes funerals for people without survivors, Prague 3 is planning to renovate the tomb at the Olšan Cemetery for this purpose.