Headstone
Headstone
A headstone is a permanent memorial marker placed at the head of a grave to identify and remember the person who has been buried there. It commonly includes the person’s name, dates of birth and death, and may include an inscription, image, symbol or other personal details.
Simple or elaborate. A headstone can be as simple or elaborate as the family wants. It might be a modest stone with only a name and dates, or a substantial memorial incorporating detailed lettering, carvings, photographs, symbols and other decorative elements.
Stonework or a plaque. A traditional headstone may be made entirely from stone, with the inscription carved, engraved or otherwise applied directly to the stone. Another option is a simple stone structure with a separate plaque attached to it. Plaques can provide considerable flexibility in wording, design and materials while still forming part of a permanent grave memorial.
Different materials and styles. Headstones can be made from materials such as granite, marble, sandstone or other suitable stone. Their shape, finish and colour can vary considerably, depending on the cemetery, the family’s preferences and any cemetery requirements.
A personal memorial. A headstone does more than identify a grave. It can provide a lasting expression of who the person was and what mattered to them. Families may include a favourite saying, religious or cultural symbols, an image, a reference to family or simply words that feel appropriate.
Cemetery requirements. Where a grave is in a cemetery, the cemetery owner will generally have requirements about the size, materials, design, placement and installation of a headstone. These requirements are intended to ensure the memorial is safe, suitable for the cemetery and consistent with its management arrangements.
Not every grave needs one. A headstone is not necessarily required immediately after burial, and some families may choose a different form of memorial or no permanent marker at all. Where a memorial is wanted, it can be arranged separately from the burial and Interment.
A headstone is ultimately a lasting marker for a person’s grave, but what it looks like and how much it says about the person is entirely a matter of choice, within the requirements of the cemetery.