Dealing with the grief that comes from losing someone you love doesn't end the day of your loved one's funeral and burial. It's a process that will, in all likelihood, take the rest of your lifetime to understand and heal from.
As time passes, it's natural to think of ways to have physical reminders of the dearly departed one who has died. While writing them letters during the holiday season or making a scrapbook filled with photos, memories, and keepsakes are great ways to honor a loved one's memory; however, the most obvious way is to have a monument or headstone at their burial site. Sure, a monument or a headstone at their burial site provides details about who the person was and how long they lived, but it can also symbolize who they were in this life and comfort those closest to the deceased. Having a physical place to visit, and looking at something that tells the world who they were, is so helpful for families in this painful time of need.
So, where do you start? What should your memorial or headstone look like?
Unless your chosen cemetery requires it, memorials don't have to be a standard shape. One of the easiest ways to create a wholly personalized headstone is to design a uniquely shaped piece. In general, when it comes to what shapes are possible - if you can think it, it can be created! Think of what your loved one cherished in life and think of how a headstone or monument can reflect that. Was your loved one an avid football fan? Why not have a headstone shaped like a helmet? Was the deceased passionate about a career or hobby? A headstone can be shaped in a way that honors that beloved job or interest. Or, if you want something that's never been done before, get out a sketchbook to start bringing your unique idea to life.
If a headstone doesn't quite suit you (or the tastes of your deceased loved one), consider ideas such as a memorial bench, planting a tree with a plaque, or engraving custom-designed carvings into the monument. If your grandma was an avid knitter or baker, perhaps incorporating a knitting needle or a picture of her specialty treat would be a great way to honor her. If your spouse was an avid reader, carve an image of their favorite book or perhaps a memorable quote from that book into the headstone. The possibilities are truly endless, and YOU are the one who knows best.
Selecting a grave marker is an important memento by which people will process their grief and remember their loved one as they visit in the years following a loved one's loss. For some, a monument or headstone acts as a simple gesture to the life the dearly departed lived, while others may want to think of more unique (and grand) ways to honor the deceased.
Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us.
Adolf Funeral Home has served the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for many years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today.
Sources
https://gibsonmonuments.com/10-ideas-to-create-a-personalized-headstone/
https://everloved.com/articles/memorial-products/top-ideas-for-grave-markers/
https://stoneletters.com/blog/unusual-and-unique-headstones
