On Monday, 26 October, Romain Louis is busy gathering fallen leaves at Dudelange's new cemetery. A stormy, rainy weekend has left the grounds littered with debris, and undid recent efforts to keep the cemetery tidy.
As he works, the faint sound of a lawnmower can be heard in the distance, which is just part of the daily rhythm in this peaceful setting.
Louis has been working as a cemetery caretaker in Dudelange for 16 years and plans to retire in a year. In an interview with RTL, he reflects on his career, the changing traditions surrounding burial, the personal nature of his work, and the role he has come to play in the local community.
Louis is a landscape gardener by profession, which not only involves planting and trimming trees and hedges, but also sowing and mowing lawns.
He first worked in Dudelange's cemeteries in 1982 for about a year and a half, before he transferred to the municipal gardening department when a position became available.
In 2010, he returned to cemetery work after his predecessor retired. Since then, Louis has served as both the cemetery's gardener and gravedigger.
He says he enjoys the variety, the outdoor environment, and the frequent contact with people that the job brings.
Louis approaches his duties with dedication and a strong sense of community. During a visit, many people pass through the cemetery, and nearly every other visitor stops to consult him, whether they are seeking advice about maintaining a grave, restoring inscriptions, or simply exchanging a few words.
Over the years, he has become a familiar and reassuring presence, as he is always willing to offer assistance.
Dudelange has three cemeteries. The oldest, known locally as the 'old cemetery', dates back to the late 18th century.
The new cemetery, 'Op Rellent', has existed since 1953, and there has been a woodland cemetery on Gehaansbierg for about seven years.
Louis and his family live on the grounds of the new cemetery, in a caretaker's house provided for the person in charge.
He describes the atmosphere as exceptionally quiet, with the house positioned so that the graves are not visible, making it feel, in his words, as though they are "living in a vast park".
The house can be arranged and decorated according to the caretaker's preferences, from the layout to the choice of paint.
In addition to the caretaker's house, Louis also owns a property on Rue des Minières in Dudelange's Italian Quarter, which is currently rented out. Upon his retirement, however, the cemetery house will pass to his successor.
According to Louis, traditional burials in coffins are becoming less common, with around fifty such ceremonies taking place each year.
Cremations, by contrast, have increased, with approximately 120 urns interred or placed annually, either in conventional graves or near a family stone that bears only the family name, as there is not enough space for full details.
He notes that the cemetery uses biodegradable urns made from compressed maize, which decompose naturally over time, allowing for more sustainable use of space.
Since the woodland cemetery opened on Gehaansbierg in 2019, the option of having ashes scattered among the trees has become increasingly popular. The site is now up to its 20th tree for such burials.
A scattering meadow at the new cemetery, which has been in use since the early 1980s, provides another alternative.
Around 30 people are commemorated there each year, and over the decades, about 900 people have had their ashes scattered in this area.
Louis explains that the gravedigger is always required to be present during burials, regardless of who is being laid to rest.
After the civil ceremony or church service, it is their responsibility to accompany the deceased to the grave and ensure the proceedings are carried out correctly, as they serve as the official municipal witness during the interment.
Funerals for young people tend to attract large crowds and deep emotion, and that can be challenging, he says.
The job sometimes requires practical problem-solving as well: When reopening existing graves, the team must often check whether there is still space for another coffin.
If not, families are advised to consider cremation or, if they prefer not to, to purchase a new grave nearby for their loved one.
At the old cemetery, around 500 graves are marked with a red plaque bearing the letter C, indicating that they are municipal graves.
Louis notes that these graves often revert to the municipality when families no longer wish to maintain them. The cemetery only removes those that are in poor condition, as there are still empty plots available that can be used, having been cleared years ago.
Red notices without a C can also appear on graves, signalling that the concession needs to be renewed. This renewal can be arranged at the municipal civil registry and is typically extended by 30 years.
With the explicit permission of the mayor, it is possible in Dudelange to have ashes scattered in a private garden or in nature, for example in areas such as Haard or Ginzebierg. Louis has carried out several such burials over the years.
He could have retired a few years ago, but is currently passing on his knowledge to his successor. In a year's time, he plans to retire definitively.
