Losing a loved one is never easy but you still need to move on with life. This includes making decisions regarding the funeral services. If you opted for a traditional burial, you would need a memorial or grave marker for your loved one. Even opting for cremation services and burying the urn after will require a niche or a burial plot that needs the same marker. This device allows you and other people to identify the deceased when you visit.
Apart from that, a grave marker is also a way to honor your departed loved one. Using flowers to mark the burial plot doesn’t make sense because they whither. A stone memorial is just more permanent. In fact, it is everlasting akin to the memory of your deceased love one.
When Can You Erect the Memorial?
Though you may be eager to put one right away, there are some considerations that you have to make. A lot of family members who have lost a loved one often ask this very same question. But there is no direct answer for it because it will depend on the cemetery regulations where your loved one is laid to rest.
Though it is a common practice for the cemetery to allow families to order their chosen headstones ahead, you may have to wait a while before you can fully erect it on the grave. The majority of cemeteries advise that you wait at least six weeks before you can even place a flat grass marker. The waiting period is even longer for bigger memorials like an upright marker, large headstone, or a mini monument.
Why the Long Wait?
Cemeteries ask you to wait to make sure that any dirt around the gravesite has finally settled by the time you place your memorial. In their eagerness, most people don’t consider that the ground needs to adjust. When someone is buried six feet deep underground, a lot of soil and ground materials are displaced. Even when everything is put back on the day of the burial, the dirt can still move a lot after. Something as simple as rainfall will influence the process.
You must keep in mind that when stuff below ground begins settling in, the earth above and all that lay on top of it will also move. Do note that some cemeteries with a special tampering machine can level a gravesite a lot faster. With this technology, the fresh dirt above can be compacted swiftly. As a result, the dirt is concentrated and won’t keep on moving. With this, families will not have to wait as long to place their chosen memorials. If you are concerned, it is best to ask your funeral director about this detail.
What Happens If The Memorial is Erected Too Soon?
If you go against the advice of your chosen cemetery, you may need to prepare replacement memorials. Opting not to wait for the recommended time period means you may possibly face broken or damaged grave memorials. Sadly, these materials do not come cheap, so you will need to fork out a lot more money.
A solution is to place a cheaper temporary grave marker. This will pave the way for easy identification, allowing you and your loved ones to visit the site without getting confused. The last thing you want is to be unable to find the grave amid a sea of similar-looking headstones.
What Kinds of Memorials Can Be Selected?
There are two primary kinds of grave memorials to honor your deceased kin. You can choose a flat grave marker or a raised headstone. The former is flat plaque commonly installed on a marble or granite stone base to help identify the deceased. On the other hand, raised headstones are upright stone monuments that offer the same purpose.
Do keep in mind that there are numerous styles of memorials and markers available for purchase. You can work with different designs and customize it to suit your specifications. The price varies based on the materials and added embellishments. And of course, the most important element is your text on the stone. Some choose just a simple name, but others include a photo of the deceased and add simple words like “Gone but never forgotten” or “Your memory lives in our hearts forever!”