Plan a Funeral and Monuments

Choosing a Monument

Monuments are a way for the living to remember those who have passed away and express this loss through the words and images engraved on the monument.  Also referred to as a headstone or gravestone, a monument is the actual physical marker that rests above the burial grounds of a loved one.

So as you can imagine, choosing a monument while undertaking funeral arrangements and memorial services planning very important decision that requires a careful thought process for families.  To help understand the vast amount of choices available, here’s an overview of the different types of materials, kinds of monuments and information about monument designs for your reference.

Bronze grave markers are very popular and their use is growing. Many modern memorial parks only allow bronze to be used because it creates a uniform appearance and makes the grounds easier to maintain. The epitaphs with the person’s name and dates are cast onto a bronze plaque which is then given a protective coating

Granite, one of the hardest materials on Earth, offers a large variety of colors and grains that create interesting patterns. Therefore, it is the most popular type of memorial marker. (Please note that cemeteries often have color and size restrictions, so be sure to check prior to placing your order.)

The deceased’s name and dates are engraved onto the stone by sandblasting. If the stone is ordered as part of a PreNeed package, the final date will added by sandblasting on the stone when needed and is usually done on-site at the cemetery.

There are various types of granite headstones:

Grave Markers: Also called Flush or Grass Markers

Bevel Markers: Similar to Flush Markers only slanted up between 6″ and 8″ higher

Two Piece Tablet and Base (Upright Headstones): These generally consist of two separate pieces: a vertical tablet and a granite base. The tablet sits on the base and they are generally caulked or epoxied together using stainless steel pins

Slant Markers: These come in two general types: Western style and Slants with Nosing. The face on the Western Style is polished down to the bottom of the marker and the Slants with Nosing, the bottom of the polished face is cut perpendicular on the bottom few inches up from the ground.

» Family Plot Monuments:

Large upright headstones used for entire families. Usually the family name is engraved with foot-stones placed for each deceased family member.

» Grave Ledgers:

These memorials cover the entire cemetery plot and are generally 3’ x 7’ and can be 4” or 6” thick. Larger verses, poems, sayings, etc. can be memorialized on Grave Ledgers where they often will not fit on upright monuments.

A monument design has various types that are available.  Selecting the design and the epitaph is a personal decision based on not only the wishes of the deceased but the family as well.  Also, before choosing monuments, it is very important that you learn more about today’s new gravestone technology.