ITALIAN FUNERALS

 

On my first trip to Italy, one of the first thing I wanted to do was to see a Roman structure of any sort. Thus, on the second day I was there I asked locals if there were any Roman ruins nearby. We, my wife and I, were directed to a Roman out-look defensive tower located in Velate, a frazione, of Varese, Lombardia where we were lodging for a few days. The residents of the area built it in the eleventh century.  Consequently, it was not a Roman fortification but a local defensive work. Nevertheless, it still was impressive standing at 450 feet with excellent construction. It is partially ruined, but what remains provides significant insight into the painstaking efforts to make it last and withstand any attack. The literature refers to it as “La Torre di Velate.”  Our visit to Italy was prior to a national movement called Restauro, restoration, thus I took my photograph before. The latter one is after. When we visited it, it was unkempt with a small sign explaining its history.

After viewing and fulfilling my visual hunger, I noticed that nearby was a walled-in cemetery. I was able to see some of the tops of the mausoleum. This really piqued my curiosity, more so because there was a funeral in procession. Many mourners were walking behind a casket carted by men. By the time we walked into the graveyard the men were inserting the coffin into a tiered mausoleum. My wife and I stood off to the side and a man walking by us looked at me with teary eyes and uttered, “He was so young. What a misfortune.” I nodded my head in reverence. Nevertheless, I was astounded at what my eyes beheld as they scanned the two or three acres of the cemetery.

The mausoleums were in various sizes and built from beautiful different colored marble. The builders constructed them in classical architecture with such precision that they appear as if they are entrances to homes of wealthy Ancient Romans. We see the same in cemeteries here in America, especially where there is a large population of people of Italian heritage. However, because of the varied ethnic groups buried in many of the cemeteries the mausoleums tend to stand alone. In Italy they stand close together. Below are two photographs I took. One of the tower and one of a part of the cemetery. The other two are from www.tripadvisor.co.nz and www.tripadvisor.co.uk. Thus, we see how many Italians honor their dead.

Most Italian funerals follow the rituals of the Catholic Church, since most of the people are of that religion. The Italians of America follow the same; however, in regard to customs beyond the church, much of Italian American funerals have become watered down. In small towns in Italy next of kin give notice of a death by placing posters in various parts of the town. On it are the details of the passing and of the funeral arrangements. The American counterpart is the obituaries appearing in the newspaper. At the funeral, small religious cards with information about the deceased are available. They usually contain a prayer on one side and information about the deceased on the other. Neighbors and friends upon learning of the death bring food, which seems also to be a widespread practice in America. Solemnity and respect for the dead is important. In America with so much cultural diversity many Italians are awed with “celebrations” that some groups engage in, in the passing of individuals.

  Italy allows cremation; however, there are laws prescribing the process. One has to join an association of cremation, if they so desire to receive that service. If, upon the individual’s death, family members want to do otherwise, it still takes place. If one does not belong to the association, family members can apply for permission. Generally, the families may keep the ashes at home in an urn or if they desire, to scatter them. Laws permit it in special areas within cemeteries or on private land with the owner’s consent. The laws governing funerals vary from region to region.

Cemeteries are municipal, and usually whatever route one enters a city, there is a sign indicating the way to it. They do not belong to any church or organization and any one has the right to entombment burial. I use that word since it is extremely rare for in-ground burial, given the limited amount of land; thus, in the cemeteries are family mausoleums and tiered crypts. Since Italy is a small country with a large population, the laws of the regions require the gathering of the bones of the deceased after a period of 5 to 30 years. They place the bones in a common ossario (bone depository). Some of these date back hundreds of years. Many of them, are tourist attractions such as catacombs; however, those of modern time are religious places, such as the Tempio Ossario ai Caduti d’Italia (Bone Temple of the Fallen) in the piazzale XXVI Luglio, in Udine, Italy, containing the bones of 25,000 Italian soldiers who died during the First World War. It is a church and a holy and solemn place in respect of the dead. The following photographs in order of appearance are the cemetery near the tower, the tower before restauro and after, one of the embrasures, and the Tempio Ossario.