When Should You Add A Monument To A Loved One's Grave?

In most cases, the final step of laying a loved one to rest is placing a monument on their final resting place. For many, this gives them some sort of closure in knowing that they will always have a physical location to remember them by; for others, this is the hardest part of the whole process because there is something final about the decision. So, when is the right time to add a monument to the grave of your loved one?

Firstly, you should consider the religious customs of your family or of the person who has passed away. Whilst most religions don't actually specify when a monument should be placed on a grave, some (such as Judaism) will specify that a marker must be placed on the location as soon as possible so that others can identify the final resting place. Those of the Jewish faith believe that a monument should be placed on the grave no later than a year after the burial.

Secondly, you should consider the requirements of the cemetery that your loved one has been laid to rest in. Most will actually require a certain amount of time to pass before the monument can be erected, as this will allow the dirt that covers the grave time to settle. If the headstone is placed too early, it will shift and move as the dirt around it settles, even causing the marker to sink into the earth, which will require some attention to rectify.

Thirdly, you should consider your own personal grief and that of your family and friends. The loss of a loved one can be a very painful, stressful and grief-filled time for even the strongest of people; often, those responsible for the burial will put off finalizing the monument until they are able to mentally and emotionally handle the decisions. Some people also decide to wait so that they have time to choose a headstone that really represents their loved on.

Whilst there are a number of considerations that you should take into account when making the decision of when to place a monument on the grave of a loved one, it is ultimately up to you. Once you have decided that it is the right time to place a headstone on the grave, you will need to contact the person in charge of the cemetery to arrange having it erected at an appropriate time. Hopefully you will then feel at peace with the conclusion of the process.

Choosing An Urn For A Loved Ones Ashes

When someone that you have been close to for your entire life passes away it can be devastating. While you are trying to deal with the grief, you may also be tasked with taking care of their funeral arrangements which may be one of the most difficult task we ever have to face. If your loved one has expressed a desire to be cremated, then you will have to decide what to do with the remains. Some families prefer to scatter the ashes in a special location or in a garden of remembrance, but others prefer to buy a keepsake urn to keep them in.

Choices As Unique As The Individual

Everyone has different personalities and different tastes, there is no 'one size fits all'. You would expect to choose clothing and home décor that fits your own style, so why should the final resting place be any different. When choosing an urn for a loved ones ashes, it is essential that you consider what best reflects the person that they were. You will find a huge variety of styles and colors to choose from, not to mention different materials. Think about the person's sense of style. If they were an outdoors type, then you might prefer a beautiful urn carved from wood, but if they were more of a contemporary person then a metallic design might seem more appropriate.

Choosing An Appropriate Size Of Urn

One of the most common questions regarding urns is what size they should be. The standard recommendation is for 1 cubic inch for every 1 pound of body weight. A standard cremation urn is around 200 cubic inches. However, you can purchase larger or smaller ones as required. It is common sense that an adult will need a larger urn than a child or a pet. There may also be situations where several family members would like a portion of the ashes, in which case smaller ' partial' urns are available. These can sometimes be known as keepsake urns. It is also common for couples to wish to be 'buried' together. This also applies in the case of cremation. If this is the case, then you will need a companion urn which is large enough to hold the remains of both people.

Burying Your Urn

There are a growing number of people who have expressed a wish to be cremated, but have indicated that the remains are to be buried. If you wish to bury an urn then it is best to choose one which is not going to affect the environment. There are plenty of biodegradable options available to you if urn burial is something that interests you.