Two years ago, Tobias Rieger decided on a rather unusual profession: he wanted to become a funeral director. He is now undergoing his training at the funeral home Riedl, which operates several branches in the region, including one in Ebersberg. The 22-year-old has learned a lot in the past two years. In an interview with the SZ, he reports on ups and downs and explains why dealing with death can also be fun.
SZ: Mr. Rieger, you just have to ask this question: why do you want to be an undertaker?
Tobias Rieger: It happened somehow. Before that I did an apprenticeship as a carpenter. Because of an accident, I had to think of an alternative. I wanted a job that takes place both outdoors and in the office. And: I find death and what is connected with it interesting.
Do you come across a lot of questioning faces?
Yes. For many who have had no contact with death simply repress it. And then they meet me, a young man who is learning undertakers. I have a feeling that death is a “hot topic” for some. And if they come into direct contact with it through me, then it can happen that you talk about it for hours, with people with whom you previously thought there was no common topic of conversation at all.
Even when you are out with your friends?
Yes, that happens. But it’s getting rarer. Of course, there were a lot of questions at the beginning. But it’s just my work. And I like to just leave it there.
Are you one of the youngest in training?
That’s what I thought at first. Above all, that I will sit with older men at the vocational school. But it’s very different. We have more women than men in the class and the ages range from 17 to about 30 years. And we are many – and the trend is rising. The job of undertaker has become something of a “fashion job”. With my predecessor there were almost two classes. I have four. And with our new trainee even six classes.
Do you actually come from a funeral family?
In my family, I’m the only one who works in this field. My mother is a pastoral assistant. There are a few points of contact there.
The church plays an important role in burials.
That’s what you always say and yes, she plays a role. But an ever smaller one, it seems to me. I have the feeling that there are more and more so-called “free” burials.
Should more people care about this?
Yes. I think a lot of people would be able to handle it better then. Death is disappearing from our society. He is not visible. And yet it’s like this: Death is one of the most natural things.
Tobias Rieger decorating a coffin in the farewell room.
(Photo: Peter Hinz-Rosin)
Is it always easy to look at the subject so soberly?
Of course some cases keep me busy longer than maybe others. I remember a couple my age who lost their unborn child. It was not easy.
How do you deal with such situations?
First and foremost with and through work. In any case, I want to make it as good as possible. So the parents can deal with it. And if I can’t do that, I’ll give them the numbers of pastoral workers to turn to. And for me personally? I speak to my colleagues. The company is like my second family.
How do these experiences affect you?
I learned and experienced a lot during the training. I can honestly say I’ve had a lot of character development since then.
Your training will soon be over – what happens then?
After just a few days of my training, I realized that this is exactly the job I always wanted to do. I really enjoy it. I do this with passion – like all undertakers I know.
Fun and death – can they go together?
And how! You can also say that. It’s a nice feeling when you can say after the funeral that you accompanied, designed and implemented a farewell in the way the relatives imagined it or the deceased person wanted. You can and should be proud of yourself.