Bielefeld's youngest undertaker sees the role as a "passionate vocation"
In the heart of Bielefeld, Germany, a 25-year-old woman named Linda Beckmann has found her dream job at Deppe funeral home on Oelmuhlenstraße. Beckmann, the city's youngest funeral director, has been serving her community since 2018, after completing her apprenticeship there.
Beckmann's role extends beyond the traditional expectations of a funeral director. She directly accompanies the relatives of the deceased, offering them comfort during their time of grief. This compassionate approach has earned her immense gratitude from the families she serves, often in the form of thank-you emails, handmade cards, and gifts.
Her duties encompass handling formalities with authorities, ensuring hygienic and cosmetic care of the deceased, and engaging in consultation talks with relatives. The challenges faced during the pandemic have not deterred Beckmann from performing her duties diligently. In fact, she was particularly nervous about planning and executing a large funeral during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, she successfully managed a funeral attended by over a hundred people.
Beckmann's job has had a profound impact on her perspective on life. She finds herself appreciating every moment and valuing the small things. The death of a person makes her aware of many things about her own life. This heightened sense of awareness is evident in her approach to each person she serves, as she understands that everyone mourns differently and approaches each person differently.
In her role, Beckmann is often confronted with the topic of death from a young age. She did an internship at a funeral home at the age of 17, which further solidified her interest in the profession. One memorable gesture she received was a large Merci chocolate from a family she assisted during a challenging funeral shortly after her training.
Beckmann keeps all the thank-you notes she receives in a large box in her office. These tokens of appreciation serve as a reminder of the impact she has on the lives of those she serves. Despite the sombre nature of her work, Beckmann finds solace and purpose in it, making her job a source of great satisfaction.
In a city where the funeral industry may not be the first thing that comes to mind, Linda Beckmann stands as a testament to the compassion, dedication, and humanity that can be found within it. Her story serves as a reminder that even in the face of death, there is always room for life's small joys and moments of connection.
- Linda Beckmann's unusual lifestyle, as the city's youngest funeral director, has led her to explore the profound aspects of relationships and death at an early age.
- Given her role in the fashion-and-beauty industry, Linda Beckmann is committed to ensuring the hygienic and cosmetic care of the deceased, in addition to her other duties.
- In her downtime, Linda Beckmann enjoys exploring travel destinations, gaining a more global perspective on life and death customs.
- While her primary focus is on food-and-drink and home-and-garden, Linda Beckmann finds comfort and solace in small moments of joy, such as handmade cards and gifts from the families she serves.
- Linda Beckmann's dream job at a funeral home in Bielefeld has transformed her perspective on shopping; now, she cherishes thoughtful gifts and tokens of appreciation from her clients, rather than material possessions.
