The Castellar del Vallès Cemetery creates a space dedicated to perinatal griefl

Castellar del Vallès (Barcelona), October 28, 2020 – The Castellar del Vallès Cemetery has inaugurated a space dedicated to memorializing gestational and perinatal losses. This memorial will provide families experiencing such grief with a physical point of reference to pay tribute to their lost child, addressing the emotional needs that arise in these cases. GIC de Nomber, the concessionaire of the Castellar del Vallès Cemetery and part of the Àltima group, along with the Anhel association and the municipal government, spearheaded the creation of this new space, which will be the second of its kind in the region, following the one established a year ago at the Sant Cugat del Vallès Cemetery.

The memorial for gestational and perinatal grief is located at the small roundabout leading to the new section of the municipal cemetery. It features a large oval, enclosed area highlighted by a grand olive tree, an ancient and highly revered tree in Mediterranean culture, symbolizing peace, strength, and hope. Next to the olive tree, and serving as a funerary stele, is the inscription: "To you and all the babies who left us too soon." Surrounding this setup, families who wish to can leave small, handcrafted stars made from aggregates, which will allow for the option of incorporating the baby's ashes and inscribing their name.

According to Joan Creus, Deputy Mayor for Social Rights and Services, “This service was promoted in partnership with the Anhel family association, following a proposal from one of the organization's co-founders, Castellar native Judit Torredeflo Bousquet.” He adds, “The goal is to provide emotional support to those experiencing this type of grief, and thus, a space in the municipal cemetery has been dedicated specifically to the memory of babies who have left us.”

Joan Ventura, General Director of Àltima Cemeteries, remarks that this memorial at the Castellar Cemetery “is the second of its kind in the region, demonstrating the commitment to addressing the needs of many families who, unfortunately, face such a challenging situation as gestational or perinatal loss. Spaces like this, which offer a physical and symbolic reference for this loss, are necessary to help these individuals cope with their grief.”

The initiative for this memorial comes from the Anhel association, which supports families who have suffered the loss of a child at birth or during pregnancy. Guida Rubio, president of the association, believes that “we need to normalize this grief. Having spaces like this, which aim to make these types of losses visible—still considered a taboo in our society—greatly helps families, especially emotionally, as it provides them with a place to remember and honor their child.”