Image: (APA/EVA MANHART)
For three years, Ebner and his company in Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus have been offering so-called rapid funerals, in the style of the traditional Hütteldorfer club, for those hours “when the green and white have to wear black,” as he said. His offer is definitely a consequence of the trend towards more individualization that is also evident among undertakers.
Thrown dirt from the stadium
There are almost no limits to what you can wish for a true Rapid burial, says Ebner, who has been an ardent Rapid fan “through and through” since childhood. The soil for the Rapid funerals comes from the Allianz Stadium in Vienna-Penzing. “The traditional soil comes from the stadium and is stored several times a year when the turf is renovated and the soil is aerated,” explains Ebner. If desired, the ceremony can then be led by the club’s own Rapid pastor and pastor Christoph Pelczar – of course in a green and white habit. “The Roman Catholic rite for a pastor or priest to bless the priest usually calls for a purple habit. That’s more pleasant for us if the priest appears in green and white,” explains Ebner with a wink, alluding to the club’s colors City rivals FK Austria Vienna.
Coffin in club colors
The coffin for a fan funeral is specially made in Austria or Germany and can be completely customized in terms of design and type of wood according to the wishes of the deceased. “Of course they’ve all already been painted the green-white. If desired, also with the green-white-blue-red stripes, so that the founding colors come into their own. The Rapid coat of arms can be carved or burned. We sometimes work with metal plaques .” In some cases, stadium announcer Andy Marek has even taken on the eulogy. If requested, the gravestone can also come from a partner company. “He’s also a passionate Rapid fan.” However, he says, a rapid burial is no more expensive than a normal burial.
Video: Visiting “Rapid undertaker” Christoph Ebner
The idea for the fan funerals came to the Viennese after he founded his company in July 2020. “There have been similar offers before, but they seemed a bit artificial or half-hearted,” says Ebner. “You quickly notice that someone has produced or designed something who doesn’t have the passion and maybe just believes they can make quick money.”
The offer reflects the trend towards more individualization in funerals. “It’s good that things have changed a bit,” says the 39-year-old. “It used to be a monopoly. There was only one provider,” remembers Ebner. “These were purely catalog burials.” Word of the fan funerals has now spread around the scene. “We have already accompanied numerous fans after the Rapid quarter hour,” says Ebner with pride. With his company, he has already paid his last respects to fans with cult status such as Ultras co-founder Rudolf Koblowksy (2020) or “Rapid-Charlie” Karl Finding (2021) but also to legendary players such as Leopold Grausam (2023).
“The final whistle often comes as a surprise”
However, the expert generally advises – without being embarrassed by another football metaphor – to make individual funeral arrangements. “Rapid fans know it themselves: Not every game goes into extra time. The final whistle often comes as a bit of a surprise.” You should therefore deposit your wishes during your lifetime – “regardless of whether you are a Rapid fan or not”.
“Of course it’s hard to tell your grandma, your dad, your child at home: ‘If something happens to me, I’d like it to be like this,'” says Ebner. “We ask the family what kind of burial he or she wanted. Then they often say: ‘We never talked to dad or mom about it.’ On the other hand, it is easier to talk to a funeral director about your own funeral wishes.
“But if you come to us and think about it beforehand, then it will be deposited, what do you want for your own funeral. Ideally, it will be in the night box for the next 70 years, 100 years and also in our drawer. If But what happens is we have the relatives. They open the scam and see: ‘Dad wants a quick burial’.”
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Source: Nachrichten
