Rethinking Taboo Topics: Vienna Invites to the "Day of Burial" for the First Time

On October 30, 2025, the Vienna Association of Funeral Directors invites you for the first time to the "Day of Funeral Services" at the House of Vienna Business. The day will be ceremoniously opened by Cathedral Priest Toni Faber. The event offers all interested parties the opportunity to comprehensively inform themselves about the topics of death, farewell, and funerals – from classic rituals to the latest trends in the industry.

"With this day, we want to show that funeral directors are far more than organizers of funerals. We are companions, listeners, and creators of personal farewells," emphasizes Manuela Manour, Chairwoman of the Vienna Funeral Directors.

Latest Trends in the Funeral Industry

The funeral industry is undergoing change: Sustainable funerals, ecological coffins, and new procedures such as re-composting (gentle transformation of the body into soil) or aquamation (gentle dissolution of the body in water) are gaining importance. Digital forms of commemoration – such as live streams, virtual cemeteries, or online condolence books – are also increasingly being used.

At the same time, the desire for individualization is growing: Personal rituals, natural burials, and creative coffin or urn designs reflect the uniqueness of the deceased. "The trend is clearly towards families wanting to participate more. Our task is to open up this space," says Manour. The burial of a biodegradable urn in the Danube, for example, is a young form of natural burial. The burial takes place from a ship and can be complemented by a memorial service on board according to individual wishes. In the context of so-called diamond burial, it is even possible to have gemstones and other mementos pressed from the ashes of the deceased.

From Insider Info to Cabaret Performance on the Day of Funeral Services 2025

The "Day of Funeral Services" on October 30, 2025, invites you to lectures, discussions, and encounters: an afternoon full of information, exchange, and culture – about farewell, remembrance, and new ways of dealing with grief. An informative guide "What to Do in the Event of Death?" provides valuable orientation, and under the title "Funeral Directors Spill the Beans," industry professionals offer insights into their work. The "Café of Memories" will provide space for personal conversations with coffee and croissants. It will be literary with Peter Ahorner, who will read from his book "Vienna and Death". The Vienna Cemeteries will shed light on the present and future of funeral culture as well as sustainability in funerals, before the day concludes with a humorous cabaret performance by Stefan Haider under the motto "Laughing Despite Farewell".

Remembering with Virtual Reality

The event will be accompanied by information stands where interested parties can learn more about the profession of an undertaker, pre-planning options, modern burial forms, or innovative grave design. A special highlight will also be a Virtual Reality experience that makes the culture of remembrance impressively tangible.

"Death and mourning are topics that affect us all – but are often taboo. We want to promote dialogue and reduce the reluctance to ask questions," explains Manour.

All Information at a Glance

Death, It Must Be a Viennese

In Vienna, there are currently 29 funeral companies, almost three times as many as 20 years ago (in 2004 there were 11). The diversity is great – from traditional family businesses to modern service providers with digital offerings. Since 2023, the Austrian funeral culture has even been part of the intangible UNESCO cultural heritage.

(Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.