I attended Mass and a funeral service at the parish church in Mellieħa, joining the procession of 40 mourners to the small cemetery at the rear of the church .

As grieving family members, friends and loved ones approached the gateway to the cemetery, we walked past an uncovered, over laden, open rubbish skip containing the debris and remains of a number of coffins having just been removed from the grave, designated for the burial of the deceased. A most distressing and unacceptable sight to behold for the mourners.

After the final blessing, at the point of the coffin being committed to the grave, it was unceremoniously manhandled to the minimal-sized entrance space provided, secured by a rope and pushed into the grave at an angle of 40 degrees in a most undignified manner. The three concrete blocks were replaced over the grave and sealed with cement while mourners were still grieving at the grave side. At this point, with impeccable timing, a truck arrived and proceeded to hoist the skip onto the truck, amidst the usual noise and clamour, before departing.

It is surely not beyond the sensitivity and capability of all funeral directors/undertakers to ensure that a minimum standard of procedure, which conforms to an accepted code of ethics, is practised at funerals. This would ensure that the final journey of the deceased is conducted with the reverence and dignity to which all human life is entitled.

The ability to achieve the required level of dignity on these sad occasions rests in the hands of the families concerned. We must instruct the appointed funeral director/undertaker as to how we would like them to conduct this terminal, though memorable event.