How often do we consider what becomes of us after we are gone? Here at the Jardin du souvenir – Urnes funéraires in Lille, that question finds a poignant answer. This is not just a place but a concept. It is a final destination for the ashes of those who have passed.
The Jardin du souvenir offers a space for families. It allows them to respectfully disperse the cremated remains of their loved ones. Since 2008, French law has prohibited keeping funeral urns at home. This makes places like this all the more vital. The law came into effect on January 1, 2013.
Think of the Jardin du souvenir as a communal resting place. It is similar to a common burial ground but for ashes. This space within the cemetery is free of charge. It is open to all for scattering ashes. If the deceased left no instructions, this garden offers solace to their families. It’s an alternative to scattering ashes in nature or housing them in a columbarium. Families can also bury the urn.
Typically, a Jardin du souvenir occupies only a few square meters. A disperser helps in scattering the ashes. This urn opens at the bottom, releasing ashes as it sways.
One challenge is the lack of a personal space for mourning. Some families create small piles of ashes. They do this to identify their loved ones’ remains. To address this, some cemeteries have a dispersion well.
Before choosing this option, visit the Jardin du souvenir. This ensures the family is comfortable with the space. These gardens come in various shapes, often surrounded by white pebbles. Advanced designs use water to guide ashes beneath the pebbles and into the earth.
A stele marks the Jardin du souvenir. It may bear the names of those whose ashes rest here. Some cemeteries add a remembrance stele. Others have a broken column or a book of remembrance. This allows families to leave a record of the departed.
Instead of scattering, ashes can rest in a vasque. This bowl sits on the ground. It is designed to take up minimal space. Vise systems prevent vandalism.
Dispersion wells sometimes cause issues. Ashes can quickly cover the lawn. This leaves families without a specific place to visit. The wells are concrete shafts filled with gravel. Ashes accumulate within. This practice skirts legal requirements for identification and dispersion. It resembles a common grave, banned since 1804.
The town’s mayor must authorize ash dispersion in the Jardin du souvenir. The process is generally free. A plaque identifying the deceased costs between 50 and 100 euros.
So, what becomes of us? In Lille’s Jardin du souvenir – Urnes funéraires, ashes find a dignified resting place. It offers families a space for remembrance.