A Guide To Headstone Types And Burial Markers

By Essie Osborn


Choosing the right memorial to a loved one who has passed on is no easy task. During mourning, emotions run high, and it can be difficult to make the decision. While most funeral elements, like the catering or the service, will live on only in your memories, a headstone will be with you every time you visit the gravesite.

It's good to take your time, instead of rushing to make a decision on such an important topic. A burial marker's design is a signal to all who walk by it in the cemetery, telling them something about the person it memorializes. From the inscription on the stone to the actual type of materials the marker is made of, the object exists to tell the future about the deceased person.

Burial sites with markers are an old and familiar human custom, across different religions and cultures. The first grave markers were made of wood, but today's memorials are often made of granite, marble, or other durable materials that will wear well over time. Several factors determine how well a stone will last, including how intricate the carved inscription is, how big the stone will be, and how much you can afford to spend.

Most stones you'll see in a modern cemetery follow the style of the "upright" gravestone. This familiar silhouette has a rounded top, and stands up off the ground. From obelisks and other complicated and ornate statues down to very simple stones, though, there's as much variety in memorial styles as there is variety in people.

If you've seen a burial marker, probably made of bronze or possible of granite, and low to the ground, you've seen what's called a lawn level stone. These gravestones are also sometimes called flush or flat styles. Timelessly elegant, these minimalist options are less expensive than upright stones, and are distinctive in their own way.

No matter what style of stone or what material you choose, there are a lot of decisions to be made about the exact text you'll have engraved on the object, and any additional design features. Icons like angels, broken columns, or other symbolic images are very popular. Some people choose a personal image, like a sailboat for a loved one who was fond of the sea.

You can even choose something very modern, like a gravestone which has a digital screen embedded in it, so that it can display a slideshow of favorite pictures of the person you've lost. You can also opt for a static image, a single photo that reminds you of your loved one. The desire to remember our dead doesn't change, even if the style of burial marker has come very far from the earliest human markers of sticks and stones.

The area around the stone itself is another chance to express your feelings for your loved one. Plants that require minimal maintenance, like trees and shrubs, can help the area feel lush and joyful, a celebration of life. Flowers, either planted alive or cut and placed in arrangements like bouquets or wreaths, are another traditional choice to show love for the deceased person. Some mourners like to leave objects the person loved, like a bottle of a favorite brand of whiskey. A burial site is about more than just the stone itself.




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