The Vilanova i la Geltrú Cemetery Unveils New Memorial Dedicated to Gestational, Perinatal, and Neonatal Loss
Presided over by an olive tree surrounded by ceramic butterflies, symbolizing the cycle of life, purity, and hope, the new space addresses a type of grief that remains socially muted.
Located in the center of the municipal cemetery, the new memorial has been developed by Àltima in collaboration with the Vilanova City Council.
Vilanova i la Geltrú (Barcelona), March 9, 2023 – This morning, the Vilanova i la Geltrú Municipal Cemetery hosted the unveiling of the memorial dedicated to gestational, perinatal, and neonatal loss. The new space aims to address the needs of those grieving the death of a child during pregnancy, childbirth, or shortly after birth, with the goal of raising awareness and visibility for this often-silenced type of loss.
The ceremony was attended by Olga Arnau, Mayor of Vilanova i la Geltrú, Joan Ventura, CEO of Àltima and manager of Funeraria Vilanova, which operates the Vilanova i la Geltrú cemetery, and Daniel Bonabia, representative of the non-profit organization Petits amb Llum, which supports parents and families who have experienced the premature loss of a child during the gestational, perinatal, or neonatal stages.
The new memorial space at the Vilanova i la Geltrú cemetery is situated in the central part of the grounds, in a tranquil setting designed as a place of gathering, reflection, and serenity. It is marked by an olive tree, a millennium-old and highly revered symbol in Mediterranean culture representing peace, strength, and growth, surrounded by handcrafted blue ceramic butterflies symbolizing flight, life’s cycle, purity, and hope, in memory of children lost prematurely. Next to the olive tree, a funeral stele bears the inscription: "Little butterflies, fly free, always in our hearts." Benches have been placed to provide families with a space to sit and remember their loved ones, aiding the grieving process.
According to Olga Arnau, Mayor of Vilanova i la Geltrú, "the opening of this space fulfills a municipal agreement to create a place of comfort for parents who have experienced this loss. It is essential to advance public awareness of gestational, perinatal, and neonatal grief, as families in these situations often feel misunderstood and unsupported." The mayor also highlighted "the importance of grief support groups to accompany people during such difficult times, as seen with those at the Centre Cívic Sant Joan."
Joan Ventura, CEO of Àltima, stated, "Cemeteries provide an essential service to the community and must evolve alongside people to meet their needs. Today, cemeteries are not just places of rest for the deceased but also significant physical landmarks for navigating any process of loss. This includes addressing grief from gestational, perinatal, or neonatal deaths, which remains very muted in our society. The Vilanova memorial aims to be a physical space to make this grief visible and honor children lost at a premature stage."
Daniel Bonabia from Petits amb Llum noted, "Spaces like these are important and necessary for the public recognition of grief from gestational, perinatal, or neonatal loss. This is a crucial step toward making visible a reality that is often denied in our society."
The new memorial for gestational, perinatal, and neonatal loss in Vilanova i la Geltrú is the second of its kind designed by Àltima in the Garraf region, following the one inaugurated a year ago at the Sant Pere de Ribes Cemetery. In recent years, the company has also established similar memorials throughout Catalonia, including at the Roques Blanques Cemetery (El Papiol), Sant Cugat del Vallès, Castellar del Vallès, Ripoll, Sant Just Desvern, and El Prat de Llobregat. This weekend, the funeral company will also inaugurate a new perinatal space at the Viladecans Cemetery and will soon open another at the Les Pruelles site in Sitges.