1928 - The Cemetery Chapel

Cemetery Chapel

Construction of the cemetery chapel was planned before the start of World War II but was not carried out until after the war ended. The chapel was designed by Lübbecke architect Heinz Bünemann. It was completed in 1950 and has been used for funeral services ever since. In 1964, it was expanded to include six chambers for laying out the deceased. In 2023, it underwent further renovation and modernization. The cemetery chapel is open to people of all faiths, as well as those without a religious affiliation. When a large influx of Germans from Russia began in the late 1980s, the city made the chapel available for church services.

Until the late 1940s, it was customary to lay out the deceased in their homes or in the hospital morgue. From there, a funeral procession with a hearse would proceed to the cemetery for the burial. The horse-drawn hearse had been specially decorated: The horses wore black capes and black harnesses, which were adorned with black feathers at the headpiece. The carriage itself, with its canopy, carvings, and ornamentation, was also decorated in black. Later, the deceased were driven to the cemetery at walking pace in a special hearse.

1928 - The Cemetery Chapel

1928 - IMPRESSIONS