04/04/2026
A look into the funerary world of South Germany’s state of Baden-Württemberg, following two young women training as funeral professionals in a family-run funeral home.
This short video offers a glimpse into funeral service in Kornwestheim, where Amelie Merwerth and Hannah Raible are training at Bestattungen Gölz Raible. Both are completing the German apprenticeship to become a Bestattungsfachkraft, a title that translates to funeral service professional. In Germany, this is a structured three-year vocational program that combines hands-on work in a funeral home with formal schooling in areas such as funeral law, hygiene, business operations, and grief support.
Throughout their training, they are involved in every aspect of the profession. This includes preparing caskets, organizing and coordinating services with families, and performing the hygienic care of the deceased. A central concept in German funeral practice is Pietät, meaning dignity and reverence, and it guides how each step is carried out. What stands out in this video is not only the technical nature of the work, but the level of care, empathy, and responsibility expected even from trainees early in their careers. The video and accompanying article were produced by regional German public broadcasting and journalism sources, offering an authentic look into current funeral practice and education in Baden-Württemberg.
Below is the English translation of the video:
“The branches arranged, the flowers in place, the ropes laid out for the casket. For Amelie Mehrwert and Hannah Reible, this is part of their everyday life. Both are training to become funeral service professionals. These are the final preparations before a burial. Everything has to be perfect.
It’s important that everything is secure, that everything is well prepared when the pallbearers arrive with the casket and when the family is present. That is a crucial moment where everything must go right.
But getting there is a long journey. The two show us how varied their training is. In the company workshop, they prepare the caskets. Hannah grew up with this work, it is her family’s business. She is in her first year of training and approaches it with passion.
You try to make the farewell for the family, perhaps from their father or husband, as beautiful as possible. You try to help them remember him well and make that final goodbye as meaningful as it can be.
For Amelie, it is the variety that appealed to her, even during her internship. You would not find all this in an office job.
Their boss also admires how much they enjoy their training. “They do it very well. I am sometimes surprised at how empathetic and selfless they can be at such a young age, how supportive they are. The feedback is incredible.”
Direct contact with the deceased is also part of the job. Here, in hygienic care, Hannah and Amelie wash the body and dress it according to the family’s wishes for the final journey. This means a lot to both of them.
That the deceased is washed again, cared for, their hair done, just as they were in life, I think that is very, very important and has a lot to do with dignity.
This task was challenging for both at the beginning, but it is normal. This is a deceased person, a human being. And it is something completely natural. Now, I no longer have any hesitation.
They also help prepare the funeral service, like here at the cemetery in Kornwestheim. Everything is carefully coordinated with the family.
You want to make sure no mistakes happen. It is exciting, especially behind the scenes, starting the music at the right moment, making sure everything runs smoothly. You do get nervous.
A nervousness you do not see in Hannah or Amelie. Both carry out their training with heart, shaping each final journey as lovingly as possible.”
From a funeral service perspective, what practices or details in this video differ most from those commonly seen in your region?
