Once again this year, the trend confirms the growth of cremation. The importance of cremation services has also been reaffirmed by the new Legislative Act 182/2025, which defines cremation at the national level as a local public service of general interest and introduces significant regulatory developments.

What do we really mean by “service”? Reducing it to its operational component alone would overlook the symbolic and ritual dimension inherent in every funeral practice — a dimension that marks the transition from life to death and supports mourners in their grief. For this reason, crematoria have been recognized since Law 130/2001 as places of rituality. To enhance the ceremonial aspect, it is essential to raise public awareness about the possibility and importance of choosing the crematorium as a place of ritual and memory, of personalizing the funeral rite, and of valuing the final farewell as part of the grieving and remembrance process.

This journey reaches its final stage at the crematorium, the place where the physical separation between mourners and the coffin takes place. This moment, however, should not be seen as isolated; it should be understood as a continuation of the rituality previously curated by funeral directors. In light of the new regulatory and social context, this session will explore funeral rituality from the funeral home to the cremation rite, drawing on national and international experiences. The goal is to promote a more sensitive, aware, and respectful approach to end-of-life and to the needs of families.

Speakers

• Fabrizio Gombia, General Director of Socrem Torino APS and Vice President of the International Cremation Federation
• Valeria Leotta, Funeral Service Manager at Utilitalia
• Luca Tabossi, Vice President of Feniof and the European Federation of Funeral Services, Owner of Casa Funeraria Tabossi
• Cristina Vargas, Scientific Director at A. Fabretti Foundation ETS

Moderator:

Giorgio Scalici, Anthropologist and President of NIMO