Stadtallendorf and Niederklein Genealogy

For centuries, the dead were buried within the walls surrounding the churches.
In recent times, these cemeteries have been closed and the gravestones removed.
In Stadtallendorf, for example, the cemetery around the church was officially
closed in 1960 and in 1995 the gravestones were removed and the area leveled
and seeded. The bodies were not moved, only the gravestones were removed.
I have not found any records of the grave locations nor any pictures of the old
gravestones which were destroyed. The only gravestones still in place are for the
priests. I found the same situation in all the churches I visited in 2012.

New cemeteries were established outside of the towns. These cemeteries are very
different than cemeteries in the U.S. In the U.S., the gravesites are purchased and
the bodies remain there forever. The bodies are embalmed and placed in metal
coffins which are buried in concrete vaults. In Germany, the gravesites are leased
for 30 years. After that time, the family can pay to lease it for another 30 years,
otherwise, the gravestone is removed and someone new can be buried in that
location. This sounds strange to Americans because our burial customs are
different. It was explained to me, that in Germany, the bodies are refrigerated
until burial, not embalmed. The coffins are not placed in concrete vaults. They
decompose naturally and after 30 years not much is left.

Another custom that is different is tending the graves. In the U.S., the cemetery
company cuts the grass and provides all the care for the gravesite. Flowers planted
by the family are limited. Many times, artificial flowers are placed atop the gravestone.
In Germany, the grave sites have a stone border, inside which the family can plant
flowers and decorate the graves. The families come frequently to the graves to weed
and water the flowers. It is touching to see the families there every day. American
cemeteries are lonely places but that is not so in Germany.