What is QGraphicsScene.removeItem() executing?

By default, it removes the item from the scene as well as all of its children.
I would like to re implement that behavior in order to unparent children before removing the item itself. Is that something possible or should I manually manage the parenting before removing the item? Managing parents before removing might be the easiest way but it doesn't seem to be the cleanest / neatest way.

I feel like there must be something to override in a sublass somewhere.

Any idea?
Cheers,