1971-1979
Our history
Since its inception, in Funeraria San Vicente we have been characterized by the recognition of the value of the funerary ritual, innovation in the most advanced processes of Tanatopraxia and social responsibility, which has always been reflected in infrastructure, human resource trained and excellence In the quality of services, as evidenced by the next timeline.
1971-1979
Year 1971
Funeraria San Vicente was born in 1971, founded by Luis Fernando Arango Madrid and took place in a small place located on Barranquilla street in the city of Medellín. At that time, funeral companies were baptized with the names of saints, some like: San Luis, San Francisco, San Ignacio, among others. The name of San Vicente was chosen because of its proximity to the hospital that today bears the same name.
1971-1979
Year 1972
Thanatopraxia at Funeraria San Vicente took a great leap to be imitated in Medellín and other countries, with the vascular injection processes for embalming bodies; positive evolution that in the 80s generated innovation and transformation with the constitution of embalming rooms.
1971-1979
Year 1975
We carry out the structuring of the logistics, the technical and the institutional for the supply and coordination of funerals, in addition to the optimization of communication and traceability with different institutions such as the church, notaries, cemeteries, municipal statistics or inspections.
1971-1979
Year 1979
In this year, the first authentic, genuine and original hearses arrived. From this, we began to obtain exclusive hearse for the funeral ritual, considered mobile temples for their elegance and solemnity that contributes to the aesthetics of the funeral ritual, making an important part of the funeral ceremonies or honors.
Currently our fleet is made up of modern, innovative and comfortable hearse, and a recognized collection of old hearse that have performed funeral services for notable people in the country, and that are carefully preserved for rituals and history.
1980-1989
Year 1980
We moved to Avenida Juan Del Corral, in the Jesús Nazareno neighborhood known as the neighborhood of the funeral homes. In this headquarters, there are the administrative and operational areas, as well as the customer service offices.
1980-1989
Year 1989
We open Villanueva Casa de Velación, based in the center of the city of Medellín, which currently has 14 comfortable rooms suitable for conducting farewell rituals.
1980-1989
Year 1983
We support with ritualizations the arrival of the cremation processes to the city of Medellín.
1990-1999
Year 1990
We carried out the dynamization of the funeral provision based on the economic and mental openness characteristic of the time, which strengthened trust and brought in many new users, who, based on the pre-need or prepaid culture, followed and believed in the mutual philosophy that we accompanied from decades ago.
1990-1999
Year 1997
We started the co-foundation of the most important network in the country, the National and International Corporation of Funeral Homes REMANSO, in which vice-presidency and presidency have always served, consolidating all its actions and becoming a vital part of an economic cluster that includes all logistics with the participation of other businessmen, to cover the funeral provision in all corners of the national geography.
1990-1999
Year 1998
The Grief Unit is born with the aim of offering professional support to those who have lost loved ones, through psychological and medical consultation and support groups, in a free, open and free way to the entire community. Currently, the Grief Unit is qualified as IPS and has obtained more than a dozen international recognitions that began in 2008 and continue today.
1990-1999
Year 1998
We begin the formation and construction of the founding group of the company Rituales Funerarios S.A. in the Municipality of Guarne Antioquia, as an entity specialized in cremation and custody of ashes.
2000-2009
Year 2000
We carried out the first diploma in thanatopraxia, which formalized, oxygenated and moralized the development of academic training in thanatopraxia with an institution of technical education in the city of Medellín and later with the Association of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, which have formed hundreds of technicians, who dignify and give meaning to the embalming work whose ultimate goal is the funeral ritual.
2000-2009
Year 2000
We accompany the exhumation and return of Epifanio Mejía, Colombian poet, author of the lyrics of the Antioquia hymn who died in 1913 in the city of Medellín, to Yarumal, his native land, on a journey known as the Alpha and Omega of Liberty, which is carried out from August 5 to 11, 2000 through the municipalities of northern Antioquia: Bello, Donmatías and Santa Rosa de Osos among others, until reaching the city of Yarumal, where his mortal remains currently rest.
2000-2009
Year 2002
We participate in the trade union that achieved the legalization of the funeral provision, determining that this is not insurance and that it recognizes only in kind, as is proper and optional for funeral ritual companies, the benefit to which an affiliate is entitled when it occurs a death.
2000-2009
Year 2008
We obtained quality certification.
2000-2009
Year 2009
We started the campaigns for life "Although we all have to die, let's not kill ourselves" and "Honor the existence of the motorcyclist, not his memory" carried out daily in different places in the metropolitan area of Medellín, with educational and awareness-raising activities for the entire community , carried out for 10 years until 2018.
2011-2021
Year 2013
We accompany the pilgrimage with the relics of Holy Mother Laura Montoya, in the so-called procession "Along the Ways of Antioquia" a journey in which the path of the missionary work of Holy Mother Laura to Dabeiba - Antioquia and her subsequent return was reconstructed. until being located in the Convent that bears his name in the Belencito neighborhood in the City of Medellín.
2011-2021
Year 2014
We started the Significant Rituals program, in which families build, in the company of specialized psychologists, personalized tributes that pay tribute and say goodbye in a meaningful way to their deceased loved ones.
2011 - 2021
Year 2018
We accompany one of the most unfortunate moments in the history of soccer worldwide. In 2018, we carried out the funeral service for the Chapecoense FC soccer team, a fact that shocked our Antioquia community, where commitment, solidarity, and respect were the main pillars to transport the bodies of the 71 deceased and pay them tribute. memorable in the city of Medellín before being repatriated to the country of Brazil.
2011 - 2021
Year 2020
We are experiencing one of the greatest challenges so far in our history.
The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic represented a series of challenges in our funeral work. Many of the biosafety protocols and body transfers had to change, where we prioritized the health of our collaborators and their families.
Digitality undoubtedly marked a before and after in our way of interacting with society, because it forced us to think of new ritualization strategies so that families could say goodbye to their loved ones with dignity and humanity, from this The support group for losses due to Covid-19 of the Grief Unit emerged, in addition to conferences and individual virtual consultations to continue providing support to the mourners.
2011 - 2021
Year 2021
The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) in the United States, includes the name of Funeraria San Vicente in "The Hall of Excellence" for receiving the recognition "In Pursuit of Excellence" for the tenth time and "The Best of the Best" for fifth time, being the first Latin American funeral company to achieve it.
In response to the pandemic, funeral homes found extraordinary ways to cope and provide meaningful support to bereaved families and communities.
We are proud of who gives us these awards, the oldest and largest funeral association in the world, with more than 24,000 members.
Our human team is worthy and deserving of this praise and it is to them and our colleagues that we dedicate these awards.
2011 - 2021
Year 2021
Within the framework of the Night of the Best 2021 edition, Fenalco Antioquia recognized the management of our General Manager Luis Fernando Arango Madrid, awarding him the distinction of "Distinguished Merchant" for his outstanding leadership, dedication to service and commitment and dedication during his professional life to strengthen the highest professional and ethical standards of funeral work.
Quality politics
At funeraria San Vicente SA, we are committed to meeting the needs and exceeding the expectations of our customers, through permanent innovation, optimization of resources, care for the environment, risk prevention, and compliance with regulations. and continuous improvement for the benefit of the community.
Values
SOLIDARITY: We are a company committed to society, we act in order to help people at the time of the loss of their loved ones.
RESPECT AND DIGNITY FOR THE DECEASED AND FOR PEOPLE: We firmly believe that the deceased deserves all our consideration and respect, for this reason our actions are aimed at dignified treatment. In the same way, we visualize respect for our fellow men taking into account the differences and values of each person.
ETHICS: We proceed with integrity, we are consistent with our principles and we demonstrate the rectitude of our actions every day.
HONESTY: We are known for being transparent in our behavior inside and outside the organization. We act consistently and faithfully comply with our clients.
BELONGING: We feel like an integral part of the company and we act according to the mission, vision and proposed objectives.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY: We work responsibly in such a way that the performance of our processes does not harm the normal functioning of the environment.
HUMAN AND DIGNIFIED WORK: Our actions are developed according to the needs of the people and are carried out by our work team with respect, consideration and sensitivity.
SAFETY: We carry out our work taking into account self-care.
Mission
We are a professional work team that provides comprehensive support to the community through a complete funeral protection plan, with an agile and timely funeral service, provided with an adequate infrastructure and complemented by scientific guidance in the process of preparing the mourning.
Featured Awards Gallery
In search of excellence 2013
For its collection of classic and antique hearses, Funeraria San Vicente received the NFDA's "Quest for Excellence 2013" award.
In search of excellence 2010
Funeraria San Vicente received the award for the collective campaigns " Not one more death in my Commune" which had the slogan "Although we all have to die: Let's not kill ourselves! and "Mr. Driver: let's honor the existence of the motorcyclist, not his memory! The work carried out jointly with the National Police had a positive impact not only on the city of Medellín but also on its neighboring towns.
In search of excellence 2018
Unidad de Duelo, 20 years working for our community.
By the 90's, when the city of Medellin was going through one of its most violent times, Funeraria San Vicente had 24 years of experience performing funeral rituals; and at this time when the number of people affected by death was increasing, our founder and general manager, Luis Fernando Arango, decided to offer something that went beyond the planning and development of funeral rituals and that could help people in their grief.
With Doctor Jorge Montoya Carrasquilla, who assisted patients in palliative care, the first Conference "Surviving after the death of a loved one" was convened in the facilities of the Casa de Velación Villanueva.
From this first conference that opened the route for the accompaniment of the mourners, Funeraria San Vicente created in 1998 the Bereavement Unit as an institution open to the entire community with totally free care, with the aim of promoting the recovery of people in mourning for death.
Committed company 2018
The distinction "Exemplary Company for its Responsibility in Latin America" conferred by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy CEMEFI and the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility in Mexico AliaRSE, has been awarded for the effort and commitment in our region. These recognitions ratify Funeraria San Vicente as a pioneer in Corporate Social Responsibility where the invaluable impact of the Bereavement Unit and the social campaigns with their profound pedagogical content and collective impact stand out. These campaigns motivate the community to reflect on ritual, the value of life, respect for others, solidarity, tolerance, harmony and coexistence.
Recognition of Fenalco Solidario - 2012 Business Category
Distinction granted by the National Federation of Merchants, for having transcended the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility and for being a benchmark of improvement for the advancement and progress of organizations. This recognition consolidated us as good corporate citizens.
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Recognition of the funerary union of the southwestern and coffee zone of Colombia
In search of excellence 2020
Coping with grief as a child.
Many adults do not take seriously the curiosity that children feel about death and believe that they are 'too young to understand it', but in reality death has an important impact on children of any age, from infancy to adolescence.
For Funeraria San Vicente and its Bereavement Unit, the care of bereaved children has always been of vital importance, and for more than two decades it has had as its main objective to contribute to their well-being and mental health. For this reason, it has designed different programs to accompany them in this process.
Accompanying bereavement helps to strengthen the social bond, to preserve symbolic acts and to promote respect and empathy for others. Accompanying bereavement from childhood is a bet not only for the children but also for the future, for the mental health of our entire community.
In this opportunity we are one of the three funeral homes that, among 24,000, obtains the recognition "The Best of the Best 2020".
Our staff is worthy and deserving of this accolade and it is to them that we dedicate this recognition. THANK YOU!
Today we are proud to say #SomosSanVicente.
The Best of the Best 2020
Coping with grief as a child.
Many adults do not take seriously the curiosity that children feel about death and believe that they are 'too young to understand it', but in reality death has an important impact on children of any age, from infancy to adolescence.
For Funeraria San Vicente and its Bereavement Unit, the care of bereaved children has always been of vital importance, and for more than two decades it has had as its main objective to contribute to their well-being and mental health. For this reason, it has designed different programs to accompany them in this process.
Accompanying bereavement helps to strengthen the social bond, to preserve symbolic acts and to promote respect and empathy for others. Accompanying bereavement from childhood is a bet not only for the children but also for the future, for the mental health of our entire community.
In this opportunity we are one of the three funeral homes that, among 24,000, obtains the recognition "The Best of the Best 2020".
Our staff is worthy and deserving of this accolade and it is to them that we dedicate this recognition. THANK YOU!
Today we are proud to say #SomosSanVicente.
In search of excellence 2016
Meaningful ritual actions: a tribute to life.
Taking into account that in Colombia there were no personalized ritual actions, nor different from the traditional ones that were mainly based on religious acts, the team of the Bereavement Unit of Funeraria San Vicente devised a proposal that consisted in the recovery and strengthening of funeral ritual acts as a means to favor the process of grief elaboration and make a personalized tribute to the deceased, exalting his life and giving his relatives the possibility of being more participative of his farewell.
The proposal of significant ritual actions of Funeraria San Vicente, vindicates the image of the deceased through the resource of memory and the commemorative act, which had not been done so far in the city of Medellin.
The Best of the Best 2018
Unidad de Duelo, 20 years working for our community.
By the 90's, when the city of Medellin was going through one of its most violent times, Funeraria San Vicente had 24 years of experience performing funeral rituals; and at this time when the number of people affected by death was increasing, our founder and general manager, Luis Fernando Arango, decided to offer something that went beyond the planning and development of funeral rituals and that could help people in their grief.
With Doctor Jorge Montoya Carrasquilla, who assisted patients in palliative care, the first Conference "Surviving after the death of a loved one" was convened in the facilities of the Casa de Velación Villanueva.
From this first conference that opened the route for the accompaniment of the mourners, Funeraria San Vicente created in 1998 the Bereavement Unit as an institution open to the entire community with totally free care, with the aim of promoting the recovery of people in mourning for death.
In search of excellence 2017
Bury the drawer phrases.
One of the most common obstacles that Funeraria San Vicente has faced in bringing the community closer to understanding and overcoming grief has to do with the phrases that are used to comfort those who have lost loved ones, because these, although they are said with good intentions, people in mourning state that many times they make them feel worse.
In the absence of a consoling and totally effective strategy to accompany someone who is in mourning, people resort to what they have more at hand, that is to say: the phrases of the drawer.
This is the title of this awareness campaign, taking into account all those phrases that can produce anger, disagreement or rejection in the mourners and thus invite the community to reflect on the fact that there are no infallible or perfect phrases for those moments of grief.
In search of excellence 2019
Rituals for all.
The road traveled in these years of service to the community, allowed us to expose, within the framework of respect and solidarity, funeral services for street dwellers, elderly at risk of destitution, victims of armed conflict and low-income families, who by their condition could not access funeral rituals.
Since Mr. Luis Fernando Arango Madrid founded Funeraria San Vicente, he proposed to do everything in his power to dignify this practice so that it is performed in a decent manner and is part of a social policy of Funeraria San Vicente, in addition to ensuring the permanence of this work.
We have changed history, attending on average a daily funeral service of these characteristics and we have set an example that, as citizens, these are also our dead and should be treated as such.
In search of excellence 2021
Funeraria San Vicente S.A., Committed to mental health and suicide prevention.
The Bereavement Unit was the first institution in the country specialized in medical and psychological support for bereaved people. Free of charge and open to the entire community, this unit offers comfort to hundreds of people every month through its services such as support groups, the institutional conference "Surviving after the death of a loved one" and individual consultation.
Of these services, the suicide support group has been of special importance for the work developed from the Bereavement Unit, not only because it offers support to mourners, but because many people who have had suicidal ideation or even suicide attempts find in this space a safe place to talk about their feelings and their desire to die.
Therefore, Funeraria San Vicente and its Bereavement Unit, understanding suicide as an important public health problem, works to implement prevention strategies to reduce these figures and support the mourners.
In search of excellence 2022
Helping by Helping: Alternative Therapies complementary bereavement support program of the Bereavement Unit of Funeraria San Vicente.
The clinical team of the Bereavement Unit of Funeraria San Vicente implemented the proposal called "Alternative Therapies", to complement the psychological support offered to users from the individual consultation.
When a loved one has been lost, it often happens that the representation of reality is affected in multiple areas including interpersonal bonds, dreams and life purpose, self-esteem and the desire to live.
With the Alternative Therapies program, trust in others and self-esteem are reestablished, bonds with other people are generated and skills are acquired that give new meanings to being in the world while at the same time the loss is re-signified and grief is elaborated.
The best of the best 2021
Funeraria San Vicente S.A., Committed to mental health and suicide prevention.
The Bereavement Unit was the first institution in the country specialized in medical and psychological support for bereaved people. Free of charge and open to the entire community, this unit offers comfort to hundreds of people every month through its services such as support groups, the institutional conference "Surviving after the death of a loved one" and individual consultation.
Of these services, the suicide support group has been of special importance for the work developed from the Bereavement Unit, not only because it offers support to mourners, but because many people who have had suicidal ideation or even suicide attempts find in this space a safe place to talk about their feelings and their desire to die.
Therefore, Funeraria San Vicente and its Bereavement Unit, understanding suicide as an important public health problem, works to implement prevention strategies to reduce these figures and support the mourners.
Exemplary Company 2014
The distinction "Exemplary Company for its Responsibility in Latin America" conferred by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy CEMEFI and the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility in Mexico AliaRSE, has been awarded for the effort and commitment in our region. These recognitions ratify Funeraria San Vicente as a pioneer in Corporate Social Responsibility where the invaluable impact of the Bereavement Unit and the social campaigns with their profound pedagogical content and collective impact stand out. These campaigns motivate the community to reflect on ritual, the value of life, respect for others, solidarity, tolerance, harmony and coexistence.
Committed Company 2019
The distinction "Exemplary Company for its Responsibility in Latin America" conferred by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy CEMEFI and the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility in Mexico AliaRSE, has been awarded for the effort and commitment in our region. These recognitions ratify Funeraria San Vicente as a pioneer in Corporate Social Responsibility where the invaluable impact of the Bereavement Unit and the social campaigns with their profound pedagogical content and collective impact stand out. These campaigns motivate the community to reflect on ritual, the value of life, respect for others, solidarity, tolerance, harmony and coexistence.
Exemplary Company 2016
The distinction "Exemplary Company for its Responsibility in Latin America" conferred by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy CEMEFI and the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility in Mexico AliaRSE, has been awarded for the effort and commitment in our region. These recognitions ratify Funeraria San Vicente as a pioneer in Corporate Social Responsibility where the invaluable impact of the Bereavement Unit and the social campaigns with their profound pedagogical content and collective impact stand out. These campaigns motivate the community to reflect on ritual, the value of life, respect for others, solidarity, tolerance, harmony and coexistence.
Exemplary Company 2015
The distinction "Exemplary Company for its Responsibility in Latin America" conferred by the Mexican Center for Philanthropy CEMEFI and the Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility in Mexico AliaRSE, has been awarded for the effort and commitment in our region. These recognitions ratify Funeraria San Vicente as a pioneer in Corporate Social Responsibility where the invaluable impact of the Bereavement Unit and the social campaigns with their profound pedagogical content and collective impact stand out. These campaigns motivate the community to reflect on ritual, the value of life, respect for others, solidarity, tolerance, harmony and coexistence.
Thanatopraxia room
We have the best trained personnel in Latin America in thanatopraxy, preservation and restoration techniques, in accordance with the highest standards required by the American governing bodies, in relation to professional, ethical, biosanitary, and environmental techniques. Our staff is highly committed to the quality, reliability and respect that this noble work demands.
We also have the most modern thanatopraxy laboratory in Latin America, equipped with the best equipment and resources currently available in the world. It is a functional, modern and perfectly adequate space to professionally comply with all embalming processes and protocols.
Our thanatopraxy professionals and technicians have been endorsed by the American Association of Funeral Directors NFDA, the British Institute of Embalmers MBIE, the American Association of Embalmers ASE, and the National Fountain Academy of Professional Embalming Skills.
I want to congratulate each of the employees that make up the beautiful family of Funeraria San Vicente, thanks to you one as a client can see the social meaning that your work team has. In my time as a member of the national police, I have never seen anything like it in more than 14 years, because it is very nice to see how such a renowned funeral home as you contribute to the prevention of violent death and the protection of children and adolescents. My sincere congratulations and I hope you continue to work for the community.