VENICE – Toni’s family saved 380 euros, Nane’s 600. Bepi’s relatives, on the other hand, spent 1,300 less than the price list to organize his funeral. If you’re wondering, the names of the deceased are the result of fantasy. The accounts, on the contrary, are the actual result of the sign affixed to the window of Onoranze e Trasporti Funebri, The Serenissima of Ferraresso Comm. Loredanoin Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, at number 6808.

THE AD

For about forty days, a yellow notice has read in black characters “Due to having reached the age limit, after 54 years of activity, it will be closed in April 2023. Funeral -20% – 40%”. His unequivocal announcement caused a stir and derision in the city, pointed to and photographed by the dozens of passers-by who stopped to immortalize him, and by those who even came forward to ask for a fake estimate. In the tam tam of photos that soon went viral in Venice and beyond, however, an important element has gone unnoticed, namely that that money, to be precise 2 thousand and 280 euros in a real sample of only three functions held in Venice, is for really remained in the pockets of their respective families. Hence the regret of the owner, Mr. Loris, accused of black humor when he only wanted to “give back good to a city from which, professionally speaking, I have received so much in almost 55 years of profession”. But let’s step back into what has taken the form of an unfortunate misunderstanding. “In the family, we have been dealing with funeral homes and flowers for four generations. There are also the Ferraresso brothers in the Quattro Cantoni and my son Andrea, fifth generation, in Favaro Veneto – explains Loris -. The fact is simple. I am 75 years old and since I was 21, starting from Mestre, I have arrived in Venice doing this job. On June 30, 2023 my contract expires and by April I have to vacate the premises in which I am renting to return the land to its owner. I could have offered my products at their price right down to the last minute-he explains-. Instead, just to give something back to the city where I’ve worked all my life, I’ve chosen to make discounts. And here’s what came back- he blurts out with displeasure-. Among all the beauties guarded by Venice, people had nothing better to do than make fun of me, ask for false estimates and take selfies in front of the shop window”.

THE OPERATION

Loris explains that “certainly this sale operation also takes place in my interest, given that I still have to clear the place of the materials found there. But I also know how much difficulty most people are, the same ones who look for offers at the supermarket, and before deciding on a funeral service, they compare and decide on alternatives. Irony was made without understanding the goodness of the intentions – she underlines -. I’m embittered. Knowing how to come to this environment, you get to spend thousands and thousands of euros for an animal that has passed away, skimping on the other hand for a parent, even on epigraphs to hang in the city. Woe to that too many acquaintances don’t flock – continues Loris -, and you risk renting an extra taxi. In doing so, I propose prices lower than the market ones, after having already since 2004 added the basic funeral for indigent families to the price list at 1290 euros. It is clear that whoever is better off will not come to me – she adds -. But the quality of my work is always the same. It was a question of accepting a gesture of generosity, instead the stupidity of the people has found it easier to misrepresent”.