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By Freida Michael


There are many decisions that will have to be made both when planning the funeral of a loved one, or making arrangements for one's own eternal rest. These include such things as burial or cremation, casket or urn, notices, services and where to be laid to rest, just to name a few. Going through headstone designs and deciding which option is the best choice for the individual.

There are many factors that will greatly influence one's choice of burial marker. Most of these are largely based around the preferences of the individual, their budget and what is available in a particular area. In any case, the first thing that will typically narrow the selections considerably is the location of where the remains will be buried or interred.

There are a few old style grave yards that still permit people to erect markers that are creative expressions of the individual, though this is a practice that is quickly being phased out in modern times. Newer cemeteries are implementing restrictions on acceptable types of markers used within their boundaries. Their reasons include environmental factors, maintenance concerns as well as the intention of creating a certain type of look and feel to the place.

The first style that generally comes to mind for a lot of people, is the traditional upright stone, placed either directly into the ground or upon a horizontal slab. These are typically made out of marble, granite, cement or fieldstone and can be done in a variety of colors, textures and silhouettes. Information such as the deceased's name and life dates, a religious symbol and perhaps a short epitaph are often engraved into the surface.

Cover stones are another traditional style that is still frequently used. They are typically cut from sandstone, marble or granite, measure three foot wide by six feet long and four inches thick and lay directly over the place where the casket is buried. These are used alone, or as the bases for the upright markers, usually bearing the same basic information.

A growing trend is the burial garden which has very strict regulations and minimalistic guidelines as their way of creating a peaceful park like setting. These places typically only permit markers that are flat on the ground so that the landscape is not disturbed and mowing can be done quickly and easily. A few of them may allow small nameplates on short posts and embellished with just the name and dates of the individual.

For those sites that allow the individual to mark a grave in any way they desire, the possibilities are virtually endless. Many people given the opportunity to use their marker as a final show of creativity have chosen options such as obelisks, giant urns, angels, crosses and stones carved as open books. Some may go as far as having elaborate statuary or busts of themselves erected above their burial plot.

Once all the local restrictions, budget limitations and site guidelines have been addressed, focus should then be placed on which options best represent the personality of the individual. A grave marker is a way for a person to make one last statement to the world and pay tribute to the life they lived. Personalized touches are a great way to show respect and honor.




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