Exclusive Interview with an Employee of the Pompes Funèbres Générales in Geneva

Dear Alberto, the theme of this issue of our parish magazine is “Life-Death-Resurrection.” We thought of asking someone who works in funeral services to talk to us about their experience with this theme. You have been a funeral director at Pompes Funèbres Générales for 22 years; it so happens that you live in the parish and your two daughters have confirmed their baptismal vows at the Temple de Chêne in recent years.

Did you always know you wanted to do this for a living?

Not at all. I have a background in business and started my professional life in banking.

What was the turning point?

I lost my mother when I was 20; she had already been in a semi-coma for a few days, and on my 20th birthday, she opened her eyes, wished me a happy birthday, and then passed away. It was a beautiful final gift. Back then, it was my father who handled the arrangements with the funeral home.

My father followed her six years later. He was in the hospital but was supposed to be discharged to spend Christmas Eve with my wife and me. Everything was planned and organized; he was looking forward to it, and so were we. He passed away four days before Christmas. It was tragic.

Being an only child, this time it was up to me to go to the funeral home.

I went to the Pompes Funèbres Générales in Carouge. As you can imagine in those circumstances, I was completely devastated. However, the meeting was handled so wonderfully by the funeral director that I left feeling relieved and at peace. That very day, I told my wife: “Now that is a profession I could see myself doing.” Seven years later, the opportunity came up. When I applied, I didn’t really think I’d get it. I was hired, and today, 22 years later, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Isn’t it too hard to be confronted with death on a daily basis?

It’s true that I meet families at a deeply painful time in their lives, but the real challenge for me is knowing how to welcome them, listen to them in their grief, support them, and reassure them. This human connection, showing ultimate care for the other person at that exact moment, brings a tiny spark of life back where there is none left. It creates a sort of moment suspended in time. The fact that families leave feeling heard and relieved is my greatest reward. Every family is unique, and we always do our best to guide them through these moments. Even after 22 years, I still feel like I’ve only mastered 80% of it, and there’s still 20% left to fine-tune. Where this job truly matters is in the details—especially when acting as the master of ceremonies, providing a presence that is supportive yet discreet.

What keeps you going?

My “pillar”—my wonderful wife. She has shared my life for 37 years. She is always there to listen and supports me no matter what; she helps me unburden the heavy side of the job, without me ever revealing anything that falls under professional confidentiality, of course.

And then there are the team debriefings.

Faith?

It’s never far away.

What is the beauty in your line of work?

The human connection, and the sense of relief I can bring to a family.

Interview conducted by Michel Schach ■

For those who might be interested in the world of funeral directors, we highly recommend the film “Departures” (Japan, 2008). It tells the story of a cellist who is let go from his orchestra and looks for work. He comes across a classified ad offering a job at what he thinks is a “travel agency.”