The elderly in Udenhout are sad because the farewell center in the village is in danger of disappearing. The farewell center is a funeral home in the center of the village where relatives, especially the elderly, can easily say goodbye to their dear deceased. But the municipality has sold the building to a project developer who has other plans.
The farewell center is located in a large hall building with all kinds of functions. The elderly can drink coffee there, there is room for neighborhood meetings. The municipality has been renting it for about 25 years to a foundation that rents out the halls.
“I see how busy it is there every week.”
But the municipality believes that the building is not being used enough. That is why she sold it to project developer Woonflow in February. He already has a few buildings in the area and can now also refurbish this building and turn it into a residential care center.
Because the funeral home is managed by a commercial company, funeral director Bijnen, the municipality does not think it is necessary for it to be given a place in the new plans. “The funeral director can rent another space in Udenhout for this”, a spokesperson said. And that is against the sore leg of many residents.
“I see how busy it is there every week,” says Frans Vriens of the 50Plus party in Tilburg. He lives two houses from the funeral home. “When someone is in state, people come to watch every night. Especially people from the old people’s home. With their rollator or scooter. That will soon no longer be possible. A great loss.”
“They can get there on their own, they don’t depend on anyone.”
Henk Kuijpers of Senior Association Contact50, the former KBO, agrees: “Look, this is a village, so a lot of elderly people know each other. Then they hear from friends that someone has died and they say: ‘I have to say goodbye’. And here they can go on their own, they are not dependent on anyone.”
Vriens of 50Plus is afraid that relatives will soon have to go to Vught or Tilburg. “Then they have to go there by bus to say goodbye, the evening before the funeral.” Kuijpers: “We all want the elderly to live independently for as long as possible. And then they remove something like that?”
Funeral director Rien Bijnen manages the funeral home and was taken by surprise by the decision of the municipality of Tilburg: “They never visited us, we have not had a personal conversation with anyone. We received a letter and were stunned.”
“They can’t just get us out of there.”
Bijnen has to leave in February next year, but he refuses to leave: “We have a ten-year lease. So for now they can’t just get us out of there, I’ve had that investigated legally.
Henk Kuijpers of senior association Contact50 has sent a protest letter to the municipal council and the city council. In it, he also asks on behalf of the Elderly Welfare Foundation, the Women’s Association and 50Plus how the municipality intends to compensate for the loss of the funeral home. Kuijpers: “We are waiting for the municipality’s response to our letter. Then we decide whether to take action.”
